Brompton-headquartered architecture and design firm studio gram has beaten other designers throughout Australia to take home the hospitality design award for its work on Currie Street restaurant Omada Bar & Grill. The Australian Interior Design Awards 2026, held at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on Friday evening, recognized the Greek-inspired restaurant specialising in charcoaled meat and vegetables, as well as fresh seafood, Greek wine and cocktails. Judges said the design โexudes a sense of nostalgia in its thoughtfully nuanced design, with subtle reference to a Greek aestheticโ. Studio gram shared the award with Queensland architects J.AR Office for its interiors for Marlowe bistrot in South Brisbane.
Meanwhile, JPE Design Studio on Gilles Street was awarded best commercial interior design in South Australia for its work on the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre in North Adelaide. JPE Design Studio said the Adelaide Aquatic Centre was โguided by principles of inclusivity, community, and environmental rejuvenationโ. โThe projectโs core philosophy is to create a landscape within a landscape; a destination that fosters participation and wellness, while connecting communities and enhancing the Adelaide Park Lands as a social and cultural heart,โ they said. The project, delivered with Warren and Mahoney and Karl Winda Telfer, also received the Best of State Commercial award for South Australia.
In residential design, Simone Haag won best residential interior design for its renovation of an historic Adelaide house called Craigweil. Simone Haag said Craigweil โentwines ornate heritage reverence and resolved design gestures to establish a deeply contextual home laced with elegant singularityโ. โSimone Haagโs signature touch introduces a refined layer of interior artistry, layering textures, sumptuous fabrics, and a curated collection of contemporary, mid-century, vintage, and antique pieces that bring the remnants of the past into the present,โ they said. The project was named Best of State Residential for South Australia. According to organisers, 288 projects made the Australian Interior Design Awards shortlist, with the jury saying that โdeliberations were no less lengthy for this yearโs Australian Interior Design Awards as the high calibre of entries again surpassed expectationsโ.
โWhile diversity, flexibility and adaptability were evident across all categories, the projects that stood out showcase great innovation and a sense of authenticity best expressed through exquisite materiality and detailing,โ the jury said. Entries were judged in categories ranging from residential to retail, hospitality, public, workplace and installation design, while there were also categories for Sustainability Advancement and Emerging Interior Design Practice. The Premier Award for Australian Interior Design went to Woods Bagot for The Forest in Tasmania. In Residential Design, the award went to Genevieve Hromas with Tribe Studio Architects for Coogee House III in New South Wales, with commendations for Carr for Brunswick Yard in Victoria, Akin Atelier for Life of Riley in New South Wales, Pop Architecture for Onward House in Victoria, and YSG Studio for The Gentleman in New South Wales.
YSG Studio also took the Residential Decoration award for The Gentleman, with commendations for Alyssa Owens Design for Brooklyn Rose in United States of America, Paul Conrad Architects for Mountview Residence in Victoria, and Studio Tali Roth for Surgeons Haven in Victoria. In Hospitality Design, commendations went to J.AR Office for Golden Avenue in Queensland, AP Design House for Homer Rogue Taverna in New South Wales, Studio Y for Notting Hill Hotel โ The Front Bar and Pool Room in Victoria, and Melissa Collison Design for Salon des Refusรฉs in Hong Kong. Retail Design was awarded to Pattern Studio for Deiji in New South Wales, with commendations for IF Architecture for Baker Bleu Cremorne in Victoria, Ritz and Ghougassian for Cuccini Gelato Victoria Park in Western Australia, and J.AR Office for Togninis in Queensland.
Installation Design awards went to Youssofzay Hart for Lynda Draper: Glimmer in New South Wales and Museums Victoria for Our Wondrous Planet in Victoria, with a commendation for Studio Peter King in collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria for Westwood | Kawakubo in Victoria. Public Design awards were given to Hassell, Weston Williamson and Partners, and RSHP for Metro Tunnel Project โ Town Hall Station in Victoria and Woods Bagot for The Forest in Tasmania, with commendations for Kosloff Architecture for 24/7 Latelab in Victoria, Kart Projects for Banyan Fields Primary School in Victoria, and Hassell, Weston Williamson and Partners, and RSHP for Metro Tunnel Project โ Anzac Station in Victoria. Workplace Design was won by Hassell, in partnership with Arup for Arup Workplace Brisbane in Queensland. Commendations included YSG Studio for Alรฉmais in New South Wales, BVN for GPT HQ in New South Wales, Design Office for Milieu in Victoria, Occupy Studio for Rowie HQ in New South Wales, and Kennedy Nolan for William Street Chambers in Victoria.
Occupy Studio in New South Wales received the Emerging Interior Design Practice award. Best of State Commercial winners included JPE Design Studio with Warren and Mahoney and Karl Winda Telfer for Adelaide Aquatic Centre Development in South Australia, Ritz and Ghougassian for Cuccini Gelato Victoria Park in Western Australia, Pattern Studio for Deiji in New South Wales, J.AR Office for Marlowe in Queensland, and Flack Studio for Scanlan Theodore in Australian Capital Territory. Best of State Residential went to Genevieve Hromas with Tribe Studio Architects for Coogee House III in New South Wales, Simone Haag for Craigweil in South Australia, ME for Dolphin Court House in Queensland, Pop Architecture for Onward House in Victoria, and Genevieve Hromas with Tribe Studio Architects for Coogee. International Design was awarded to 2049 with Nathan Ngo for ARC in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Sustainability Advancement was won by Hassell, in partnership with Arup for Arup Workplace Brisbane in Queensland, with commendations for Design Inc for Maribyrnong Civic Precinct and Community Hub Redevelopment in Victoria, Paper for P25 Corporate HQ in Western Australia, Woods Bagot for The Forest in Tasmania, and Billard Leece Partnership and Workshop Architecture for Bunjil Wellbeing Place in Victoria.
Image Courtesy: INDAILY
