INT Design Awards 2025 Prizes: Global Winners, New Trends and the Future of Interior Design

"Every year the INT Design Awards showcase how design can improve our lives and work," said Hossein Farmani, president of the INT Awards. "The 2025 winners demonstrate how interiors can inspire communities, create meaningful experiences and set new standards of excellence in our industry."

This year's winners not only represent outstanding achievements in design, but also reveal new global trends that will define interiors in the next decade.

Main Winners of INT Design Awards 2025

Commercial Interior of the Year

Watertown Exploratory Labs (WELL) by Elkus Manfredi Architects

Located in Massachusetts, WELL presents a new approach to collaborative research environments. Created by Elizabeth Laurie FIIDA, RDI, the project blurs the boundaries between laboratory, workspace and community hub. Its flexible interiors are filled with natural light, sustainable materials and adaptive furniture systems that foster innovation at every level.

Public Interior of the Year

School Aux Mille-Voix by TLA + UN + NEUF

Created by Patrick Sabourin, Hélène Roger and Hugo Gannon, this Canadian school rethinks the role of educational spaces. Its interiors combine robust functionality with playful, well-lit gathering zones, providing not only learning but also emotional and social development for students. The school shows how public interiors can inspire the next generation through design.

Residential Interior of the Year

Walkway House by FGMF

In São Paulo, Brazil, Walkway House redefines the relationship between architecture and landscape. The home is characterized by circulation bridges and transparent transitions, weaving nature into everyday life. The FGMF design reflects a broader Latin American trend toward homes that are open, breathable and deeply contextual.

Luxury Hospitality Excellence

Hospitality was one of the most competitive categories in 2025. Key winners included:

• YAMAGOYA by Cocoon Design Inc. — A remarkable Japanese restaurant combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge minimalism.

• OBICA Restaurant & Lounge by Qreative Design Studio — An elevated dining experience where lighting, acoustics and textures synchronize to create intimacy.

• Royal Ingwe River Lodge by KallieMamba Interior Architects — A South African resort celebrating ecological luxury and indigenous materials.

• Vogue Café Sydney by COOOP — A cosmopolitan café combining Sydney's laid-back vibe with international luxury.

These winners show how restaurants and hotels are now becoming curated experiences, where interiors become the primary storytelling medium.

Other Notable Winners

• The Ascend HQ – Place of Diversity by Ascend Design Pte Ltd: An innovative small commercial interior in Singapore.

• Museum Aatma Manthan by Sanjay Puri Architects: A cultural landmark redefining museum and exhibition design in India.

• Regal Seduction by Lori Morris Design: A Canadian home showcasing maximalist luxury on a grand scale.

• The Blue Zone by Anna.Carin: A Swedish apartment embodying Scandinavian clarity and tactile minimalism.

Regional Highlights: Global Design in Focus

One defining feature of the INT Design Awards is geographic diversity. 2025 highlighted projects across five continents:

North America

The United States and Canada demonstrated leadership in adaptive workspaces and public projects. WELL Labs showed the future of collaborative research, while Aux Mille-Voix School became a model for reimagining education through architecture.

Europe

European studios shone in luxurious residences and cultural institutions. Lori Morris Design's "Regal Seduction" presented a baroque-inspired yet modern home, while TLA + UN + NEUF elevated the civic potential of schools.

Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region dominated the hospitality sector. From Cocoon Design Inc.'s YAMAGOYA in Japan to COOOP's Vogue Café in Sydney, the region continues exporting designs that connect cultural cuisine with architectural innovation. Thailand, Indonesia and China also made strong showings with hotels, spa zones and residential projects.

Latin America

Brazil, led by FGMF with Walkway House, took the lead, but the region also saw submissions like Casa Tikira (Shinagawa Arquitetura) and Casa Arte 10 (DOS Architects), reflecting a trend toward playful, context-driven homes.

Middle East and Africa

The hospitality sector thrived with submissions like Royal Ingwe River Lodge in South Africa and spa spaces such as Lefay Resort & Spa Gargnano by Studio Apostoli. These projects highlight the region's dual focus on ecological luxury and cultural authenticity.

Key Trends Shaping Interior Design in 2025

The awards reveal broader global design trends, beyond individual winners.

1. Sustainability as Standard

What was once niche is now fundamental. Projects worldwide have adopted biophilic principles, recycled materials and energy efficiency. WELL Labs and Royal Ingwe River Lodge are examples where green design combines with human comfort.

2. Cultural Storytelling

Restaurants like YAMAGOYA and institutions such as Aatma Manthan Museum show how interiors can become cultural narratives, embedding identity and history into spatial design.

3. Adaptive Living and Working

From Walkway House to co-working spaces like The Great Room Bangkok, flexibility is central. The rise of multifunctional interiors responds to hybrid lifestyles where home, work and leisure intertwine.

4. Technology Integration

Smart lighting, AI-powered spatial planning and immersive experiences are becoming more prominent. INT winners in commercial categories showed how digital tools transform workspace productivity and client experiences.

5. Health and Human Experience

Design is no longer just about aesthetics — it concerns emotional connection. Projects in healthcare, like Dr. Kapok Hospital, and spa resorts such as Lefay Spa show how interiors now prioritize mental and physical wellbeing.

Designer Perspectives and Jury Insights

Hossein Farmani and the INT Awards jury noted that this year's projects reflect a shift toward responsibility and inclusivity. The message is clear: interiors are no longer neutral background elements — they are active agents in shaping human experience.

"From climate action to cultural preservation, interior designers are addressing issues once considered outside their domain," said one jury member. "The 2025 winners embody the ability of design to respond to global challenges with beauty and intelligence."

Why INT Awards Stand Out

While competitions like Architizer A+ or Dezeen Awards carry prestige, INT Design Awards stand out for three key reasons:

This inclusivity makes INT not just a prize, but a global platform for designer dialogue.

The Future of Interior Design

Looking ahead, the awards preview a future where interiors:

• Hybrid — Homes and offices merge; health and leisure integrate into daily life.

• Materially Innovative — Expect micro-ceramic, recycled composites and tactile minimalism to dominate the material palette.

• Regionally Rooted — Even in a globalized world, designers find ways to embed local identity and heritage into interiors.

• Digital-Enhanced — Technologies remain a quiet partner, ensuring comfort and efficiency without overshadowing the human experience.

INT Design Awards 2025 do not just celebrate excellence; they predict directions the industry will take in the next decade.

Explore the Full Winners Gallery

To see all winners and categories in full:

🔗 View INT Design Awards 2025 Winners

Conclusion

INT Design Awards 2025 remind us that interiors are not merely aesthetic environments — they are frameworks for human potential. Whether it's a school in Canada, a family home in Brazil or a restaurant in Japan, this year’s winners prove that great design transcends borders.

As the industry evolves, one thing remains clear: the interiors we build today will define how communities live tomorrow.