The Dezeen Awards 2025 recently culminated in a grand celebration in London, honoring outstanding achievements in interior design across various categories. A total of thirteen interior projects from seven different countries were recognized, with Symbolplus Office by the Japanese studio Symbolplus receiving the highly coveted Interiors Project of the Year award. These winning designs exemplify innovation, sustainability, and a deep understanding of context, setting new benchmarks for contemporary interior spaces worldwide.

Dezeen Awards 2025: Celebrating Global Interior Design Excellence

The prestigious Dezeen Awards 2025 recently celebrated the pinnacle of interior design, with the announcement of the year's top projects at a lively event in London. Among the thirteen distinguished winners, Symbolplus Office, a creation by the Japanese studio Symbolplus, was lauded as the Interiors Project of the Year. This highly sought-after accolade, generously sponsored by Gaggenau, also saw Symbolplus Office recognized as the outstanding small workplace interior, with support from Framery.

The esteemed master jury for interiors praised the Tokyo-based office for its exceptional alignment with contemporary living and design principles, particularly noting its thoughtful material selection and profound contextual understanding. They highlighted its ability to serve as a brilliant illustration of how modern interiors can seamlessly integrate sustainability and respect for the past while also transporting occupants into an imaginative realm. The jury characterized the design as a harmonious fusion of authenticity and futurism.

The awards celebrated a diverse array of projects from seven different nations, including Japan, France, Canada, the UK, and Singapore. The competition for the top honor was fierce, with other remarkable category winners such as a bespoke knife gallery in Tokyo, an office space in London championing British craftsmanship, and an ingenious skatepark housed within a glass structure in the heart of Shanghai. Other notable mentions included a Parisian residence drawing inspiration from London's vibrant 'swinging sixties' and a traditional Kyoto wooden house ingeniously reimagined as a Japanese-Mexican fusion cafe.

Key winners across the various categories included:

• Interiors Project of the Year and Small Workplace Interior of the Year: Symbolplus Office by Symbolplus. This Tokyo office captivated judges with its blend of natural materials like earthen plaster and Japanese paper, creating a space that felt both rooted and forward-thinking. Its flexible design, featuring sliding partitions, impressed the jury for promoting well-being and adaptability.
• Small Residential Interior of the Year: 'In a Park' by L Architects in Singapore. This flat was redesigned to artfully accommodate its owners' extensive plant collection, creating a deeply personal, cinematic, and nostalgic living experience.
• Large Residential Interior of the Year: Apartment in Bois de Boulogne by Studio Asaï in Paris. This 320-square-meter apartment, boasting a rich color palette and innovative use of materials like wood terrazzo, was celebrated for its daring yet harmonious design.
• Restaurant Interior of the Year: Olia, Mimi and Va Caffè at Citizen on Jasper by Ste Marie. This Canadian project featured three distinct, interconnected hospitality venues, praised for their timeless elegance and enduring appeal.
• Bar and Cafe Interior of the Year: Challe by UNC Studio in Kyoto. A traditional Japanese house transformed into a Japanese-Mexican cafe, admired for its rich design language and minimal yet impactful interventions.
• Highly Commended Bar and Cafe Interior of the Year: BlueBottle Coffee at West Bund by Atelier Tao+C in Shanghai. This cafe, situated in a historic shipyard, was commended for its bespoke feel and contextual responsiveness.
• Hotel and Short-Stay Interior of the Year: Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji by Studio Aluc. A historic Japanese townhouse beautifully reimagined as a hotel, balancing old and new elements to create a contemporary yet warm ambiance.
• Large Workplace Interior of the Year: Norton Folgate by Universal Design Studio in London. This project highlighted British craftsmanship, creating a texturally rich space that cleverly told stories of industrial heritage.
• Small Retail Interior of the Year: Tojiro Knife Gallery Osaka by L/O and Katata Yoshihito Design. A knife shop in Osaka that meticulously carried the product's design language throughout the space, offering a theatrical yet meaningful narrative.
• Highly Commended Small Retail Interior of the Year: Aesop Store Las Salesas by Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari in Madrid. Recognized for its deep understanding of local material craft and innovative design in a historic context.
• Large Retail Interior of the Year: Sigma Space by Onoaa Studio. A minimalist photography showroom that allowed the product to speak, with intricate details in light, materials, and textures.
• Leisure and Wellness Interior of the Year: Moreprk Skyline by AAN Architects in Shanghai. An indoor skatepark suspended in a glass box, celebrated for its dynamic design and creation of culture and community.
• Exhibition Design (Interior) of the Year: The Age of Wood by Christian + Jade. An exhibition that poetically and educationally chronicled Japanese tree species, offering a deeper understanding of material lifecycles.
• Kitchen Interior of the Year: Pine Heath Kitchen by Studio Hagen Hall in London. A 1960s townhouse renovation that expertly blended cherry wood and stainless steel with mid-century design, creating a joyful and nostalgic space.
• Bathroom Interior of the Year: Kilmory House by Jillian Dinkel in Sydney. A house redevelopment that showcased a mix of materials and craftsmanship, creating a sense of calm and decorative richness.

The Dezeen Awards 2025, in partnership with Bentley, continues its mission to inspire, support, and champion design excellence globally, showcasing innovations that contribute to a better and more sustainable world. This collaboration aligns perfectly with Bentley's initiatives in architecture and design, including its Home furnishings and real estate ventures.

The Dezeen Awards 2025 serves as a beacon, illuminating the incredible talent and visionary thinking within the global interior design community. The winning projects not only push the boundaries of aesthetic appeal but also demonstrate a profound commitment to sustainability, cultural preservation, and human-centric design. These accolades inspire a future where spaces are not just functional but are deeply resonant with their environment and inhabitants, fostering well-being and a sense of belonging. The diversity of awarded projects underscores the universal language of good design and its capacity to transcend geographical and cultural divides.