Among the finalists and winners celebrated on the night were many that had woven mātauranga Māori throughout their very fabric, adding depth, cultural richness and a connection to the whenua and its people, while embracing the principles of manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga and whakapapa. Others had worked hard to address issues of sustainability, to help reduce environmental impact, conserve resources and be more energy efficient. And a number had sought to blur the line between home and office, to help create a sense of belonging and to support collaboration and socialisation in working environments.

Convenor and Architecture NZ interior editor Amanda Harkness was joined on the jury by Jon Rennie, principle at Athfield Architects; Tessa Pawson, senior associate at Peddlethorp; Scott Compton, head of design at Warren and Mahoney; and Amber Ruckes, teaching fellow at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland. 

“The Awards programme provides such a great opportunity to see the work in the unique light in which it was conceived,” says Harkness. “Through the live presentation process, we’re able to look beyond the finished product and begin to understand the journey and the commitment and passion that led to the creation of those spaces.”

“As jurors, we’re in no doubt that every single project was a monumental undertaking and that our evaluation goes beyond the delivery of excellence – these are projects that propel their categories and clients forward into a new era of New Zealand design,” adds Compton. “We must commend the clients that have invested in their environments, for trusting in designers to improve their way of life, our society, our climate and our culture, through the variety of spaces they have created.”

Ruckes noted a strong presence of the next generation coming through, “not just with Oli, but also with Raimana, the Cheshire team and others,” she says. “All are steeped in a deep narrative and craft in their own way. Nott [Ophir] also showed us how to approach a design in its simplest but boldest way. Innovation and creativity are developing many faces. These strengths highlight possibilities we could all learn from and maybe we should start questioning the ‘limitations’ we’ve become accustomed to.”

This year’s awards saw the introduction of the new Community Impact award to the programme, to celebrate interior design for the common good and to acknowledge those projects which are often, essentially, an act of care. Manutaki Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson joined the jury as a special guest judge to help award the winner, and the jury was delighted with the support the new category received.

We offer a huge congratulations to all of our 2023 finalists and winners. Read on to see this year’s best New Zealand interiors.

With thanks to our Interior Awards 2023 sponsors. Find out more about each of our sponsors here.

SUPREME AWARD

Faradays by Cheshire Architects

“A strong, confident concept that borrows from and is influenced by artists Christo, Jeanne-Claude and Lucio Fontana is translated into organic forms that guide the shopper experience and showcase the product. The clever use of canvas – a nod to the building’s history as a textile centre – provides a unique, sustainable building material and a dramatic display area within its reveals…”

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WORKPLACE OVER 1000M2

Chapmann Tripp Wellington by Studio Pacific Architecture

“One of Aotearoa’s oldest legal practices showcases its roots in this Wellington workplace, offering its employees a warm and welcoming space to celebrate its 150-year existence. Conveying an elegant story of tradition and legacy, the materials and spaces evoke calm and comfort.”

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WORKPLACE UP TO 1000M2

Tax Traders by Material Creative

“Brave, bold and warm, this fit-out represents a future-ready appraisal of workplace through the lens of residential design, offering an uplifting and playful work environment in what is, traditionally, a conservative profession.”

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HOSPITALITY

Picnicka by CTRL Space

“Clever curation and thoughtful execution ensure its narrative is joyfully expressed in moments throughout the restaurant interior while a focus on sustainability sees local materials destined for landfill elegantly woven into the fabric of the design.”

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CIVIC

Kā Uri, Awanui by Glamuzina Architects

“Clear and contemporary in its formality yet deeply meaningful in its purpose and usage, Ka Uri is an intelligent embodiment of place and culture. The storytelling is focused on what is within the gallery spaces and framed by the fabric of the interiors.”

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RESIDENTIAL

Ophir by Nott Architects

“Cinematic, compelling, a perfect infusion of landscape, architecture and interior – it’s almost impossible to know where one starts and the other stops. Ophir is the ultimate example of a design which truly embodies place; the land is the structure, the architecture is the interior.”

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RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN

Konini Road Kitchen by Atelier Jones Design

“If Wes Anderson designed kitchens, they would look and function like this: a brilliant piece of storytelling, place-making and home-building expressed in all aspects of the work.”

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HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS

Stravinskij by Seear-Budd Ross

“Providing a fresh, new spatial and atmospheric signature for an established hair salon and skin spa, this sophisticated design response draws inspiration from Aotearoa’s alpine environment.”

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EMERGING DESIGN PROFESSIONAL

Oli Booth - Oli Booth Architecture

“The maturity and level of craft evident in Oli’s work is that of a generational talent. Placing equal value and emphasis on both interior and exterior, his outcomes demonstrate a perfect balance between hard work and elegantly realised design.”

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COMMUNITY IMPACT

Te Puna Reo o Manga Tangaroa

“Te Puna Reo o Manga Tangaroa highlights the love of a mother for her son and the designers have celebrated that love with the hands-on fabrication of design elements for both whanau and the wider community to take part in.”

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