DAIKIN Proshop Designer Award Returns with Indonesia-Malaysia Collaboration

PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia (DAIKIN) officially announced the launch of the DAIKIN Proshop Designer Award 2025 today (April 25). Marking its fifth edition, DAIKIN sets a new milestone by expanding this annual competition for professional and student architects and interior designers to a broader Indonesia-Malaysia collaboration.

“The continuous evolution driven by DAIKIN’s consistency in hosting this event has led us to expand into an Indonesia-Malaysia platform, aligning with our vision for the DAIKIN Proshop Designer Award to serve as a benchmark for similar competitions and awards. We aim to foster inspiration for ideal residential and commercial buildings that prioritize optimal indoor air quality while maintaining holistic aesthetic value across the ASEAN region,” stated Shinji Miyata, President Director of PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia, during the opening remarks.

First held in 2020, the DAIKIN Proshop Designer Award originated from the need for a platform where Indonesian architects and interior designers—both professionals and students—could share their visions for ideal living spaces with a focus on HVAC system design. Beyond aesthetics, the competition emphasizes occupant comfort and health within these environments.

As in previous editions, DAIKIN collaborates with the Indonesian Architects Association (IAI) Jakarta and West Java chapters, and the Indonesian Interior Designers Association (HDII) DKI Jakarta. Beyond maintaining its prestigious status, this partnership aims to engage the broader communities represented by these leading national associations for architecture and interior design.

For the first time expanding its reach to the ASEAN level, DAIKIN partners with DOMA Initiatives and the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID), both prominent professional bodies representing architects and interior designers in Malaysia.

This cross-border association support is reflected in the 2025 judging panel. Representing MIID are Malaysian interior design practitioners Adjunct Prof. Dr. Joe W.H. Chan and Dr. Wong Pei San, alongside Malaysian architect Ar. Mun Inn Chan, affiliated with DOMA Initiatives.

From Indonesia, renowned architect Tan Tik Lam and acclaimed interior designer Alex Bayusaputro join founding principal of Atelier Cosmas Gozali, Cosmas Gozali, as judges. Indonesian celebrity Daniel Mananta also serves on the 2025 judging panel.

Regarding the competition's core concept, “ORIGINALITY” has been selected as the official theme. It challenges participants to innovate in designing ideal living spaces by prioritizing originality and human intuition over artificial intelligence (AI). “This underscores our commitment to fostering creative works that preserve authenticity, a challenge that grows increasingly significant in the AI era,” added Shinji Miyata. In terms of category structure, the fifth edition separates entries into Professional and Student divisions. Based on project format, it retains two main categories: Built Projects and Conceptual Designs, each available for Architecture and Interior Design tracks. Built Projects evaluate applications in previously constructed developments, while Conceptual Designs are assessed based on participants’ architectural drawings and design concepts.

Additionally, participants can compete based on building application: Residential Buildings and Commercial Food & Beverage (F&B) Establishments. These categories are open to Professional and Student Architects, as well as Interior Designers, across Indonesia and Malaysia.

Building on last year’s challenge, the Conceptual Design category now requires participants to design either a residential unit or a commercial F&B space on a plot of less than 1,000 square meters. “This ambitious constraint provides every participant with the opportunity to innovate and demonstrate originality in crafting an ideal space featuring an HVAC system that highlights both aesthetic appeal and advanced DAIKIN technology,” explained Shinji Miyata.

DAIKIN has prepared various recognitions for winners across all categories, including a total cash prize pool of IDR 530 million. As part of the event series, registration for the DAIKIN Proshop Designer Award 2025 officially opened on April 25 and will run until August 31, 2025. The judging sessions are scheduled to take place in late October this year.

Culminating the event series, the award ceremony will be held on November 27. For comprehensive details regarding the DAIKIN Proshop Designer Award 2025, please visit the official DAIKIN website.