In 2020, the Interior Awards programme is celebrating 10 years of recognising the very best in New Zealand interior design. Each year, we get feedback from many entrants, designers and industry players about how to create a programme that best reflects the current state of interiors around the country. In response, we have introduced two new categories this year: Residential Kitchen and Healthcare and Wellness.

Last year, we introduced the Residential category for the first time due to the increasing relevance and widespread influence of residential interiors across the board in the industry. It proved to be one of the most popular and competitive categories in 2019, but we noticed that there was a divide between whole-home designs and kitchen-focused designs. Thus, we have introduced the Residential Kitchen category this year to give those practitioners who focus on the heart of our homes a place to shine.

Convenor of the 2020 Interior Awards jury and Interior magazine editor, Federico Monsalve, says, “Following the success of our inaugural Residential category award in 2019, it became clear that the appetite was high for interior-focused, industry recognised awards that celebrate the richness of New Zealand house design. This [new] category allows us to further recognise the fantastic work of residential practitioners through one of the hardest working and most often re-designed rooms in the home.”

Another trend that just keeps growing in the industry is that of health and wellness. As our society demands more and better spaces to relax, recharge and rejuvenate their minds and bodies, we have seen an increase in these types of entries into the Hospitality category of the Interior Awards. So, for 2020, we will also present the inaugural Healthcare and Wellness category to cover gyms, healthcare facilities, spas and more. The Hospitality category will remain as a place for entries in the food and beverage, hotel and tourism and similar sectors.

Monsalve notes, “Interior design of healthcare and wellness spaces responds to a highly complex set of technical parameters that include hygiene, sturdiness and functionality. Often times there is a secondary layer of seeking to relax people who might be in competitive, stressful, or sometimes highly emotional situations. After significant consultation with industry professionals this category has been launched to recognise that fact and separate those projects from hospitality or residential projects responding to entirely different briefs.”

In addition to the new categories, the Interior Awards will also open entries to the returning categories of Retail, Hospitality, Civic, Workplace up to 1000m², Workplace over 1000m², Residential, Emerging Design Professional and Student.

Entries open for the 2020 Interior Awards on 4 February. Click here to see all the key dates for this year’s programme.