Officially Launched: Annual DAIKIN Designer Award Expands Across ASEAN

As the host organizer, PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia (DAIKIN) has officially announced the commencement of the DAIKIN Designer Award 2026. Opening registrations on May 1, 2026, this sixth iteration of the annual competition for architecture and interior design professionals now expands to the ASEAN level.

“Continuously evolving this competition with each edition, and ultimately bringing it to an ASEAN-wide scale, reflects DAIKIN’s strong commitment to its broader mission. That mission is to foster inspiration for ideal residential and commercial buildings that prioritize both aesthetic value and optimal indoor air conditioning,” said Ching Khim Huat, Associate Officer at Daikin Industries, Ltd., Deputy Regional General Manager for the Air Conditioning Business in ASEAN and Oceania, Global Operations Division, during his opening remarks in Jakarta, Indonesia (April 30).

First launched in 2020, the DAIKIN Designer Award was created to provide a platform for architects and interior designers to share their vision of ideal living spaces. These spaces strike a balance between overall aesthetic appeal and the comfort and health benefits delivered by carefully designed indoor climate control systems.

This harmony between design beauty and air conditioning comfort aligns perfectly with the core philosophy behind the DAIKIN Home Central AC system. From a comfort perspective, this central air conditioning solution for homes and commercial buildings offers a wide range of features tailored to specific needs, delivering refreshing air alongside advanced functionalities. These include multi-layer filtration to eliminate harmful airborne particles and precise humidity control capabilities.

All these advantages are elegantly housed within the diverse design options of the DAIKIN Home Central AC Indoor Units, allowing them to blend seamlessly into any building’s interior layout. As a premium line in the DAIKIN portfolio, this design excellence is complemented by the practicality of installation and maintenance, thanks to its unique capability to operate multiple Indoor Units from a single Outdoor Unit.

“DAIKIN’s readiness as a trusted provider of comprehensive air conditioning solutions, combined with the expertise of architecture and interior design professionals, is expected to spark meaningful collaborations in realizing the vision of ideal living spaces,” stated Shinji Miyata. “This extends beyond Indonesia to the entire ASEAN region, broadening and enriching inspiration through the diverse works showcased in the DAIKIN Designer Award.”

Speaking of this major collaboration, Mr. Miyata noted that it is also reflected internally within DAIKIN itself. Four DAIKIN affiliates are co-organizing the DAIKIN Designer Award 2026: DAIKIN Indonesia, DAIKIN Malaysia, DAIKIN Singapore, and DAIKIN Philippines.

Consistent with this statement, the DAIKIN Designer Award 2026 is open to participants from all ASEAN member states. This expansion encourages fresh design approaches to ideal living spaces. Beyond industry professionals, the competition also welcomes entries from university students.

Participants in each category will compete based on building applications: residential and commercial F&B establishments. Entries are not limited to built projects but also include conceptual designs for both architectural and interior layouts. Specifically for the built residential category, acknowledging the rise of vertical housing, the competition features a sub-category dedicated to apartment or condominium projects.

On another note, DAIKIN’s serious commitment to elevating this competition to an ASEAN level is evident in its partnerships with major architecture and interior design associations. In Indonesia, DAIKIN collaborates with the Indonesian Architects Association (IAI) and the Indonesian Interior Designers Association (HDII). In Malaysia and Singapore, partnerships are established with the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) and the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS). Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) joins as the collaborating interior design association for the Philippines.

These collaborations are notably reflected in the composition of the judging panel, which features prominent figures in architecture and interior design. From Indonesia, renowned architects Tan Tik Lam and Cosmas Gozali serve as judges alongside Alex Bayusaputro, a widely recognized professional interior designer, and Wenky Handono representing DAIKIN. From Malaysia and Singapore, IDr. Tay Ei Ling (MIID) and ID1. Henry Yew (SIDS) join the panel as leading interior design experts. Representing the Philippines, IDr. Cecil Ravelas serves as the judge for PIID.

For easy registration and detailed event information, DAIKIN has launched a dedicated website at www.daikindesignerawards.daikin.co.id. Registration will be open from May 1 to August 31, 2026. DAIKIN has prepared various awards for winners across all categories, including a total cash prize pool of IDR 540 million.