Design Anthology Awards 2021: Announcing the Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Design Anthology Awards! It’s our pleasure to announce the 21 award winners across the categories of People, Places & Products
We are thrilled to announce the complete list of winners of the 2021 Design Anthology Awards. We would like to thank and congratulate the designers, architects and other members from the Asian, Australian and New Zealand design communities who submitted their inspiring projects, and the esteemed panel of industry experts who helped us assess them.
Our 2021 Awards programme is presented with thanks to our trophy sponsor Lasvit, bronze sponsor Aoyama Design Forum and Design Hotels and House of Tai Ping.
People
Architect — An individual active in architecture, urban planning and/or landscape architecture
Andra Matin, Indonesia
Taking a modern and sensitive approach to architecture, Indonesian architect Andra Matin’s work has been recognised for its contemporary take on traditional values and its insightful reframing of the Indonesian post-colonial identity. One of the country’s first independent architects, Matin is also the co-founder of the Young Architects of Indonesia and the Bintaro Design Week, and serves as a trusted mentor to many young architects across the country.
Emerging Talent — A young designer who brings a fresh take or aesthetic to their designs, whether in architecture, interiors or products
Kosuke Araki, Japan
Tokyo-based designer Kosuke Araki’s diverse and innovative work explores values that go against the pursuit of efficiency inherent to modernisation. Rooted in a deep appreciation of nature, Araki’s creations express a sense of humanity and ecological consciousness, both through his conceptual ideas and the materials he works with.
Interior Designer — An individual active in interior design; either in residential, commercial and/or other areas
Nelson Chow, Hong Kong
Hong Kong architect and interior designer Nelson Chow is the founder of acclaimed design studio NC Design & Architecture. Guided by his holistic approach to design and his focus on creating meaningful emotional experience for users, Chow’s imaginative work has made him a leading designer in commercial design in Hong Kong and beyond.
Industrial Designer — An individual active in product/industrial design
Kyuhyung Cho and Jungyou Choi, Studio Word, South Korea
Seoul-based design duo Kyuhyung Cho and Jungyou Choi are the founders of Studio Word, a creative platform through which they have built a unique design language based on their interpretation of tradition and modernity. Combining utility with their refreshing perspective, Cho and Choi’s projects range from graphic and product to furniture and spatial design
Female Designer — A noteworthy female industrial or interior designer or architect who has made a significant contribution to the field
Fiona Lynch, Australia
Multidisciplinary Australian designer Fiona Lynch established her eponymous practice in 2013, and works on interior design projects ranging from residential and hospitality to art institutions. She is a genuine advocate of collaboration, inspiring courageous innovation within the design industry. In 2019, Lynch was named one AD Germany’s Top 200 Design Influencers in the world
Ambassador — An individual with a strong profile in promoting or representing design from Asia, Australia or New Zealand outside of the region — for example, a designer, a writer, a patron, a collector or an educator
Marisa Yiu, Hong Kong
Marisa Yiu is the co-founder and executive director of Hong Kong-based charity Design Trust, an initiative that supports design projects and research in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. An architect and founding partner of ESKYIU, Yiu has dedicated her career to advocating for the value of design in shaping better cities
Vanguard — An individual with a visionary approach to design
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, China
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu are the founders of interdisciplinary Shanghai-based Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, where they lead projects that reimagine contemporary urban spaces, ranging from master planning and architecture to furniture and product design and branding. Neri and Hu also regularly speak at forums and design events across the region, and mentor many young designers
Places
Adaptive Reuse — For excellence in the reuse and regeneration of a building
Baoshan Waste-to-Energy Exhibition Center by Kokaistudios, China
In the Shanghai suburb of Luojing, Kokaistudios transformed a factory building into the Baoshan Baoshan Waste-to-Energy Exhibition Center. Taking an ecological focus while preserving the site’s industrial heritage, Kokaistudios selected for light, modular and fully recyclable materials that leave open possibilities for the building’s future repurposing
Commercial Spaces — For excellence in the architectural or interior design and realisation of spaces such as offices and co-working facilities
Maruhiro Office ‘OUCHI’ by DDAA, Japan
Tokyo-based architecture and design practice DDAA adapted an 86-year-old Japanese house in Hasami to become Maruhiro Office ‘OUCHI’, an office and flexible multi-use space for pottery brand Maruhiro
Cultural, Art & Educational Spaces — For excellence in the architectural or interior design and realisation of cultural spaces such as art galleries, museums and educational facilities
For Our Country by Daniel Boyd and Edition Office, Australia
Designed by Indigenous artist Daniel Boyd and Melbourne-based architecture firm Edition Office, For Our Country is a memorial sculpture commemorating the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women of the Australian armed forces. Located at the Australian War Memorial in Ngunnawal Country, the memorial offers an opportunity for deeper contemplation and reflection
Hospitality Spaces (Dining) — For excellence in the design and realisation of food & beverage spaces
Siji Minfu by IN.X, China
Designed by Beijing-based interior design firm IN.X, Peking duck chain Siji Minfu’s Beijing branch was reimagined for the brand’s younger customer base. Combining traditional architectural references with modern materials and techniques, IN.X converted a former warehouse into a contemporary dining space while preserving the essence of the original building
Hospitality Spaces (Hotels) — For excellence in the design and realisation of hotel and resort spaces
Hotel Gahn by Studio Locomotive, Thailand
Designed by Phuket-based multidisciplinary practice Studio Locomotive, Hotel Gahn in Khao Lak is a tribute to Baba Nyonya heritage and culture. Set in a five-storey shophouse, the intimate 20-room boutique hotel incorporates traditional materials and local construction techniques for an immersive experience of local culture
Residential Living Spaces — For excellence in the design and realisation of private living spaces
Coopworth by FMD Architects, Australia
Melbourne-based architecture and interior design firm FMD Architects designed Coopworth as a contemporary interpretation of a country farmhouse. Nestled in the rural surroundings of Bruny Island, Tasmania, the off-grid home tactfully converses with the ever-changing local landscape through playful forms and an inventive approach to materials
Residential Living Spaces (Compact) — For excellence in the design and realisation of small private living spaces (up to 1,000 square feet in size only)
Chalet W by CASE-REAL, Japan
Fukuoka architecture and interior design firm CASE-REAL’s Chalet W is a 150-square-metre ski-holiday retreat in the hills of Niseko. Designed with relaxation and socialising in mind, the home features an open, serene design that blends with views of the surrounding snowy landscape
Retail Spaces — For excellence in the design and realisation of retail spaces
m-i-d concept store, Osaka, by CURIOSITY, Japan
Designed by Tokyo-based multidisciplinary design firm CURIOSITY, Osaka concept store m-i-d brings five womenswear brands together under one roof. Located within a mall, the store’s striking star-shaped layout and dramatic ceiling create a unique spatial configuration, while the striking natural colour and material palettes brings a sense of elegance and sophistication
Sustainability — For excellence in the integration of sustainability into a building and/or development
Smart Design Studio by Smart Design Studio, Australia
For its new office, Australian multidisciplinary design practice Smart Design Studio readapted an industrial building in the North Alexandria Industrial Heritage Conservation Area, New South Wales, to become a sustainable and innovative workplace. Based on the brief to build a studio and residence to last the next 30 years, the design embraces the essence of the original industrial site in both its aesthetic and functionality, and incorporates robust materials like brick, tiles, galvanised sheeting and steel-framed windows
Urban Redevelopment — For excellence in the design and realisation of an area that’s at the forefront of changing a cityscape or the way people live and work
Beijing CR Land Galleria Shopping Center by Kokaistudios, China
Designed by Shanghai-based architecture and interior design firm Kokaistudios in collaboration with property developer CR Land, the Galleria Shopping Centre in Beijing is the result of transforming a previously underused, disjointed commercial street into an inclusive public space. The shopping centre invites community interaction thanks to smart interventions including a network of canopies, increased seating and green areas
Products
Furniture — For excellence in the design and realisation of residential, commercial or other furniture pieces or collections
Kite by Stellar Works, China
Designed by Japanese design studio nendo for Shanghai-based furniture brand Stellar Works, Kite is a series of compact armchairs imagined for smaller commercial and hospitality spaces. The chair’s backrest was imagined as both an independent element and the star of the chair, creating a bold piece of furniture that takes up minimal space while offering maximum comfort
Lighting — For excellence in the design and realisation of indoor or outdoor decorative lighting
Rupu by EVERY, Indonesia
Designed by Eugenio Hendro for Indonesian furniture brand EVERY, the Rupu light was inspired by the traditional tin cans of crackers commonly found in Indonesian street food stalls. Made of bent plywood, brass-coloured metal and ribbed glass, the elegant floor lamp evokes a sense of nostalgia by representing an iconic element of Indonesia’s culture
Accessories — For excellence in the design and realisation of furnishings, homewares, tableware, etc.
13 series by ZETR, Australia
Designed by Australian electrical accessories company ZETR, 13 is a collection of sleek integrated outlets and switches imagined as an alternative to clunky traditional fixtures. Available in matte white or matte black finish, the minimal electrical outlets are highly functional and simple to install, making them a quiet and elegant touch in any interior
Textiles — For excellence in the design and realisation of textile products
LOOFT by Sheryl Teng for Design Incubation Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Industrial designer Sheryl Teng’s undergraduate thesis project was later incubated at the Design Incubation Centre, and the result is LOOFT, a series of inflatable textiles that leverages the power of air to provide insulation, protection and comfort. Comprising a chair cover and a light-permeable partition, the LOOFT series rethinks textile as an interface between the body and the environment, providing thermal and acoustic insulation when needed
Our 2021 Awards programme is presented with thanks to our trophy sponsor Lasvit, bronze sponsor Aoyama Design Forum and Design Hotels and House of Tai Ping.
