Overview
Australia is a hotbed of world-class design, making it challenging to award the best of the best. However, the highly respected Australian Interior Design Awards are up to the task, whittling down a shortlist of 228 projects to select the year's best builds across multiple categories. In 2026, we look south to Tasmania to find the jury's top pick for the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design — The Forest by renowned architecture practice Woods Bagot.
Forming part of the University of Tasmania, this landmark project was conceived to revitalise and adapt its heritage Forestry building and establish a new CBD campus for the school. Featuring a modular, demountable design, the structure is intended to adapt to future interior environments as pedagogical needs change. According to the jury, The Forest was a standout thanks to providing "university students with an incredibly rich, layered environment that is uplifting and to which anyone would want to return."
The Forest by Peter Bennetts.
Far from your ordinary academic building, Woods Bagot actually set out to build as little as possible. Instead, the team carefully considered how to connect and integrate existing structures to not only deliver a highly sustainable outcome, but also contribute to the building's long-standing legacy. All told, 60 percent of the original structure was preserved, while much of what was removed was repurposed or transformed into something new, even furniture.
What's more, The Forest was also jointly selected as the winner of the Public Design award, sharing the spoils with The Metro Tunnel Project – Town Hall, designed by Hassell, Weston Williamson and Partners and RSHP. Described as "an ambitious undertaking that celebrates a modern industrial aesthetic with expressive gestures that look like they will stand the test of time," it's a welcome update to a sometimes tired-looking Melbourne train network.
Metro Tunnel - Town Hall. Supplied.
There were also two winners of the Hospitality Design category, with J.AR Office winning for its Australian-style bistro Marlowe, with its "apartment-turned-restaurant a truly evocative and theatrical head-turner." Meanwhile, Studio Gram received the award for the contemporary Adelaide-based Greek restaurant Omada, bringing a nostalgic and nuanced design that creates a space that resonates with balance and large-scale forms.
On selecting the winners, the Australian Interior Design Awards stated: "Deliberations were no less lengthy for this year's Australian Interior Design Awards as the high calibre of entries again surpassed expectations. While diversity, flexibility and adaptability were evident across all categories, the projects that stood out showcase great innovation and a sense of authenticity best expressed through exquisite materiality and detailing."
Marlowe by Jessie Prince.
The Forest by Peter Bennetts.
The Forest by Peter Bennetts.
The Forest by Peter Bennetts.
Head to the Australian Interior Design Awards 2026 website for more information.
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Top image: Peter Bennetts.