DAIKIN Awards Celebrating Originality in Architecture and Interior Design Works

PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia (DAIKIN) honored interior designers and architects who successfully blend aesthetic elements with a strong focus on air conditioning systems in their designs for ideal homes and Food & Beverage (F&B) commercial buildings. This recognition marked the culmination of the DAIKIN Designer Awards 2025 competition held in Jakarta today (Nov 27).

A total of 21 awards were presented across seven categories in a competition that opened last April. All winners were selected from approximately 1,700 applicants, a number that has consistently grown year after year. “This growing participation not only reflects increasing interest in the competition but also demonstrates expanding inspiration for designing ideal living spaces that prioritize both beauty and integrated air conditioning systems. This aligns perfectly with our primary goal for this event,” stated Shinji Miyata, President Director of PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia, during the awards ceremony. He further noted that this growth stems from DAIKIN’s consistent efforts to enhance each edition. Notably, marking its fifth year, DAIKIN set a new milestone this year by expanding the competition internationally through an Indonesia-Malaysia collaboration.

“We hope this collaboration marks the beginning of a shared vision: the widespread adoption of ideal residential and commercial designs that prioritize air conditioning systems and aesthetic excellence across the ASEAN region,” added Shinji Miyata. This Indonesia-Malaysia partnership goes beyond simply opening the competition to participants from both countries. Furthermore, DAIKIN partnered with DOMA Initiatives and the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID), two prominent associations representing architecture and interior design professionals in Malaysia.

Domestically, DAIKIN maintained its partnerships with Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI) Jakarta, IAI West Java, and the Himpunan Desainer Interior Indonesia (HDII) DKI Jakarta. According to Shinji Miyata, the involvement of these major professional associations from both nations has further solidified the DAIKIN Designer Awards as a prestigious annual platform for architecture and interior design practitioners.

Regarding the execution of the DAIKIN Designer Awards 2025, under the theme “Originality,” participants were challenged to submit their best work for either residential projects or F&B commercial buildings. The competition featured two main divisions separating professional entrants and university students, each competing in architecture and interior design tracks. Additionally, entries were categorized into built projects and conceptual designs still in the planning stage.

All submissions across every category were evaluated by a distinguished jury panel featuring renowned figures in architecture and interior design from both countries. The Indonesian jury included Tan Tik Lam, Cosmas Gozali, and Alex Bayusaputro. Meanwhile, the Malaysian jury comprised Adjunct Prof. IDr. Joe WH Chan, IDr. Wong Pei San, and Ar. MunInn Chan. Beyond them, Indonesian celebrity Daniel Mananta also served as a special guest juror for the conceptual work category.

Regarding the 2025 award recipients, GeTs Architects took first place in the Built Architecture and Interior Design category. Their winning entry, titled The Steric Spes—a portmanteau of “steric” and “relic”—conveys meanings of form, memory, and aspiration. The design features a distinctive responsive facade layered with secondary concrete blocks arranged in a grid pattern. Joining them in this category, Formzero and Anima Interior secured second and third place, respectively.

The conceptual category winners were equally impressive. Divided into residential and F&B commercial building tracks for both professional and student groups, the conceptual awards showcased remarkable creativity. Among professionals, Dreamlabs Architects won the Residential Conceptual Architecture category with their piece Weave, which draws inspiration from weaving traditions through the interplay of nature, heritage, and modern life.

Alongside them, Qhawarizmi Architect and HOW’s took second place and the Daniel’s Choice award, respectively. In the F&B Commercial Building Conceptual Architecture category, Severus Andrew Febrian Aristoteles claimed the top professional prize with In Praise of Nature. Born from an original concept exploring natural order, the design utilizes a single canopy to unify light, shadow, and tranquility. Fihir Utomo Associate Architects secured second place, while Willis Kusuma Architects was awarded Daniel’s Choice.

The awards night also proved to be a special evening for interior design agency Solenne Space. Their submission, Defying The Ordinary: A Narrative of Bold Intimacy, earned dual honors: first place in the Professional Residential Conceptual Interior Design category and the Daniel’s Choice award. The jury was captivated by its exploration of intimacy through sculptural geometry, narrative color palettes, and tactile materials. In the same category, Cline & Morrow took second place with their project RL House.

For the Professional F&B Commercial Building Conceptual Interior Design category, Helen Agustine Studio won with Seribu Rasa Kemayoran. The project transforms the authentic concept of a traditional Javanese house into a contemporary Indonesian restaurant. AP Consultant and Arkana Architect took second place and Daniel’s Choice, respectively, in the same category.

Student submissions were equally compelling. Titled V House, created by Syaukat Zidane, Micko Ferdinand Nusadi, and Rachmat Hidayat, took the top prize in the Student Residential Conceptual Interior Design category. Meanwhile, Umah Nataran won the Student Residential Conceptual Architecture category. This project was developed by two students: Muhammad Hendy Gymnastiar and I Wayan Balitar Yana.

“Alongside our congratulations to this year’s winners, we encourage all participants to continue creating and sharing inspiration about ideal homes and commercial spaces with a wider audience,” said Shinji Miyata. He noted that this spirit remains the foundational drive behind the DAIKIN Designer Awards. “It serves as a starting ground where ideas for ideal residential and commercial environments can flourish, fostering mutual inspiration among all participants,” he concluded.