The INDE.Awards stand as the Asia Pacific region’s most prestigious celebration of architecture and design. Each year, the program honours projects that not only demonstrate design excellence but also shape the way we live, work and connect across the built environment. Now in its 2025 edition, the awards once again showcase the innovative spirit driving the industry, bringing together the best practices and groundbreaking designs from across the globe.

Among its diverse categories, The Social Space recognises projects that foster community, interaction, and a sense of belonging. In 2025, presented in partnership with Maxton Fox, this highly anticipated category has been awarded to The Standard, Singapore by Ministry of Design.

Ministry of Design (MOD) has masterfully brought The Standard’s irreverent and playful hospitality ethos into the heart of Southeast Asia. Known internationally for its bold mid-century modern identity, The Standard brand has established iconic destinations in West Hollywood, New York, and London. With its debut in Singapore, the brand finds a natural home in a lush enclave that pays homage to the city’s reputation as a “City in a Garden.”

Stepping into the double-heighted reception, guests are greeted by sweeping curves lined with warm timber battens that lead toward Café Standard. Here, MOD’s attention to atmosphere is immediately apparent, with greenery-filled nooks, vibrant cocktails and eclectic furnishings setting the tone for connection and play. Overhead, a custom-designed light installation floats like an anti-chandelier – playful, colourful and distinctly mid-century in spirit.

The journey continues through Kaya at The Standard, the hotel’s destination restaurant. Enveloped in cascading greenery, the dining space creates the sensation of being immersed in a living oasis. Pendant lights of varying character peek through lush foliage, creating a dialogue between design and nature. As day turns to night, the atmosphere shifts: a glowing full-wall bar comes alive and Kaya transforms into a vibrant social hub where conversation and energy flow.

The rooftop swim-up pool bar extends the botanical immersion to new heights. Guests lounge under canopies of greenery while sipping cocktails, a seamless blend of relaxation and sociability that exemplifies MOD’s vision for hospitality as a layered, sensory-rich experience.

By reimagining how design can inspire both gathering and retreat, Ministry of Design has elevated The Standard, Singapore into more than a hotel, it is a social destination. As winner of The Social Space at the INDE.Awards 2025, the project exemplifies how architecture and design can foster connection while embracing the natural and cultural context of place.

Through innovation, play and respect for its verdant surroundings, The Standard, Singapore sets a new benchmark for hospitality in the region. It is a worthy winner of an award that celebrates the spaces where communities thrive.

Discover the full lineup of 2025 winners here. Entries to the 2026 INDE.Awards will open in early December.