Shortlist Revealed for 2017 World Interior of the Year Awards

A total of 79 projects from across the globe will compete in the prestigious awards ceremony, spanning nine diverse categories, ranging from grand civic spaces and hospitals to transportation hubs, bars and shops.

Hosted alongside the World Architecture Festival (WAF), the awards are part of the INSIDE festival that attracts in excess of 2,000 attendees each year for its three days of talks, awards, exhibitions and fringe events.

Highlights on this year’s shortlist include a spa located in the basement of a shopping mall in Shanghai inspired by the lush tropical greens of contemporary Thai urbanscape, and a Maldives island hotel project featuring a striking Sunset Bar reminiscent of a Whale Shark.

Paul Finch, Programme Director of INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, says: “Many of the shortlisted designs concern the way that interiors help us to live, work and play more efficiently and more enjoyably.

“This is appropriate in a year when our conference theme is ‘Performance’, which will examine how elements like colour, acoustics and volume contribute to the success of new and refurbished interior projects. All the shortlisted designs will be presented live, so Festival delegates will enjoy a series of mini-performances by designers, as well as conference speakers."

Shortlisted designers reflect the global reach of the awards and include Eight (USA), Tomoro Aida and Aida Atelier (Japan), Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (Australia) Carlo Berarducci Architecture (Italy), 3deluxe architecture (Germany), Arquitiectura en Movimiento Workshop (Mexico) and KSM Architecture (India).

Australian practice SJB celebrates being the practice with the most shortlisted projects, four in total, while fellow Australian practice BVN and Chinese practice Neri&Hu Design and Research Office achieve three shortlisted projects apiece.

All nominees will present their projects to distinguished international juries during the Festival to compete for one of the nine category awards. Open to all festival attendees, the presentations are followed by a live exchange between the designers and jurors.

The overall winner of the World Interior of the Year will be announced at an exclusive gala dinner on 17th November.