Members of the region’s interior design industry converged at the JW Marriott Marquis on September 16th, for the ninth annual Commercial Interior Design (CID) Awards.
The awards programme consisted of 16 categories in total, covering the entire spectrum of commercial interiors, from office design to hospitality and retail.
Returning to the function this year was the American Hardwood Export Council’s (AHEC) Outstanding Use of American Hardwood in the Middle East award as well as the Interior Design Boutique Firm of the Year which was introduced last year, with a rising number of submitted nominations.
New to this year’s awards is International Project of the Year, presented to a Middle East-based interior design firm with successful projects completed abroad, sponsored by Marina Home Interiors who are also Platinum Sponsors of the event.
Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) picked up three awards this year, including Interior Design of the Year: Hotels for its Al Bait Hotel as well as the International Project of the Year for its JA Manafaru Resort in the Maldives. GAJ also won the 2015 Interior Design Firm of the Year prize.
Kahler Design received two awards this year including the Interior Design of the Year: Office for Yum! Office and for its Cinema Akil project under the Interior Design of the Year: Public Sector category.
LW Design also picked up two awards for Pan Asian Restaurant under the Bars & Clubs category as well as the Food & Beverage category for its Geales Restaurant in Dubai.
For the second year running, Bishop Design won the Interior Design Boutique Firm of the Year, an award that recognises the most impressive design portfolio from a firm with less than 30 employees.
This year’s Young Interior Design of the Year went to Sonal Kotecha from Pallavi Dean Interiors, while the Interior Designer of the Year was awarded to Maliha Nishat from design worldwide partnership.
The winner for the Residential category was VSHD for its Jumeirah Residence, Anarchitect picked up the AHEC Award for the Best Use of American Hardwood for its Cafe No 57 project.
The 2015 Sustainable Interior Design Initiative of the Year was presented to Viktor Udzenija Architecture + Design for its design headquarters.
Last but not not least in the projects category, the Interior Design of the Year: Retail was picked up Schwitzke & Partners for Virgin Megastore Yas Mall Abu Dhabi.
The Behind the Scenes prize was awarded to Grace Dioquini of Broadway Interiors, while this year’s Designers Choice Award of Interior Contractor of the Year was received by AMBB.
The judges for the 2015 CID Awards were: Andre C Meyerhans, head of Andre C. Meyerhans Architects; Hani Fallaha, designer and partner at LOCI Architects+Design; Matteo Bianchi, director of Matteo Bianchi Studio; Sergio Padula, technical director at iGuzzini; Rue Kothari, fair director of Downtown Design; Maria Mortera, professor at the College of Architect, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah; Linda Merieau, executive director of Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) and Laura Bielecki, senior interior design manager at Ellington.
Commercial Interior Design Awards winners 2015:
Interior Design of the Year: Hotels: Al Bait Hotel- GAJ
Interior Design of the Year: Bars & Clubs: Pan Asian Restaurant- LW Design
Interior Design of the Year: Food & Beverage: Geales Restaurant- LW Design
Interior Design of the Year: Office: Yum! Office- Kalher Design
Interior Design of the Year: Public Sector: Cinema Akil AlSerkaal Avenue Dubai- Kahler Design
Interior Design of the Year: Residential: Jumeirah Residence- VSHD
International Project of the Year: JA Manafaru Resort Maldives- GAJ
Interior Design of the Year: Retail: Virgin Megastore Yas Mall Abu Dhabi- Schwitzke & Partners
American Hardwood Export Council Award: Cafe No 57- Anarchitect
Sustainable Interior Design Initiative of the Year: VUAD Headquarters- Viktor Udzenija Architecture + Design
Interior Contractor of the Year: Designer’s Choice Award: AMBB
Behind the Scenes Award: Grace Dioquino- Broadway Interiors
Young Interior Designer of the Year: Sonal Kotecha- Pallavi Dean Interiors
Interior Designer of the Year: Maliha Nishat- design worldwide partnership
Interior Design Boutique Firm of the Year: Bishop Design
Interior Design Firm of the Year: Godwin Austen Johnson