IIDA’s Annual Interior Design Competition Recognizes Standout Projects
Recognizing and encouraging innovation in the design and furnishing of interiors has been the mission of the International Interior Design Association’s annual Interior Design Competition for almost half a century. A relative newcomer, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is a sub-category, the Will Ching Design Competition recognizing originality and excellence in commercial projects by firms with five or fewer employees. The latest of the Will Ching winners, Shanghai Godolphin’s International Wine & Spirits Museum in Shanghai, had been previously published in Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards.
Likewise IIDA-BoY double winners are J.C. Architecture’s Happier Cafe in Taipei, Taiwan; Gensler’s conference center shared by Hyundai Capital Services and Hyundai Card Co. in Seoul, South Korea; and the Rockwell Group’s NeueHouse in Los Angeles. The other winners are making their debut in Interior Design. Two are L.A. projects, Giorgio Borruso Design’s MARS retail concept and Lehrer Architects LA’s Milken Community Schools. And one is a New York office by a Washington firm, Centerbridge Partners by LSM.
A three-person jury of professionals based in the U.S.—Skidmore, Owings & Merrill lead designer Carlos Madrid, Object Agency principal and creative director Jon Otis, and textile designer Suzanne Tick—judged the submissions from a total of 30 countries. Suitability and originality were the top considerations in making the final selections. All seven were honored at the kickoff to the NeoCon trade fair in Chicago, when the IIDA hosted its black-tie Cool gala on June 11.
