10 stunning architectural and interior design projects that won at the IDA 2020

One Sino Park in Chongqing, China, was named Architectural Design of the Year at the 2020 International Design Awards. Photo: Huang Ligang

Scrolling through the photos of each of the projects was an enjoyable journey, to say the least.

From grand arches and breathtaking bridges, to museums and sustainable houses, each design had an interesting story to tell. And it is those stories – marked by creative ingenuity and high design standards – that led them on to win top prizes in the recent 2020 International Design Awards (IDA).

The most successful in its 14-year history, the awards attracted thousands of outstanding designs submitted by companies and designers from around the world.

Evaluating submissions from more than 80 countries, the IDA jury saw entries across five award disciplines – Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design and Fashion.

“The IDA seeks out truly visionary designers showcasing creativity and innovation. As the world struggled with an unprecedented challenge in 2020, the IDA received a record number of outstanding entries which presented the jury with an enormous task in selecting the winners, ” said Jill Grinda, vice president of marketing and business development for the IDA.

Gateway Arches, Al Wahda Junction, Doha, Qatar. Photo: IDA

Jury member Murat Soygenis, founding partner at S+ ARCHITECTURE, noted that, “The projects submitted to IDA represent a wide range of current trends in architecture and cover almost all parts of the globe.

“Innovative use of materials, unique spatial arrangement, harmony with the environment, and care for sustainability issues are factors that made the submitted projects stand out while being part of the current trends.

“The sustainability trend was definitely incorporated in many designs. Attention and respect for the environment is not only an ethical issue but also a business issue.

“Consumers are becoming more and more receptive to this topic and are looking for designers to teach them how to look great while generating the least possible impact on waste and pollution, ” said jury member Cristiano Magni, president and founder of Cristiano Magni Public Relations.

Here’s a look at 10 winning projects from the architecture and interior design categories.

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ARCHITECTURE

One Sino Park, Chongqing, China (Architectural Design Of The Year)

The commercial building project highlights relationships between architecture, nature, society and the people of Chongqing, enhancing the spatial experience of the building’s visitors through a design-oriented rethinking of modern lifestyles.

The concept targets large-scale urban architecture as a means of fostering community vitality through public participation and interaction, inspiring people to enhance their life experiences of the future.

The open concept of the sales offices breaks with tradition, promoting a more inclusive environment conducive to interaction.

Gateway Arches, Al Wahda Junction, Doha, Qatar (Gold: Arches, Bridges, Viaducts and Gateways)

The 100m-tall Gateway Arches have transformed a barren infrastructure corridor in Qatar into an immersive public artwork.

Designed to be viewed in motion, drivers experience a sculpture which appears to kinetically transform as they pass through the junction. The unique intertwined and tilted arches and cable net, designed by architect Erik Behrens, reference Qatar’s pearl-diving heritage.

The artwork has become a source of national pride and identity, setting a template for how generic road infrastructure can be heightened to become part of the local cultural fabric.

Zhuhai Grand Theater, Guangdong Province, China. Photo: Heping Wu, Yikun Zhong and Jieliang Wei

Zhuhai Grand Theatre, Guangdong Province, China (Gold: Architectural Lighting)

A pair of seashells by day, Sun and Moon by night – the lighting design of Zhuhai Grand Theatre illuminates the city landmark with a bold and skilful approach by transforming the two different-sized theatres into glittering celestial bodies and festive seashells.

Having adopted exterior floodlighting, wall grazing, a 5000k colour temperature and an RGB lighting system, the design not only creates a grandiose scene but also manifests the texture of the buildings.

To cope with typhoon attacks, all luminaires are installed at the optimal location to ensure the project’s sustainability.

Zero-energy balance house, Latsch GR, Switzerland (Gold: Renovation & Gold: Residential Building)

This project was an opportunity to preserve a protected specimen of historical architecture in great need of restoration. The designers adapted the 350-year-old house to modern-day living requirements and transformed it into a zero-energy balance house without destroying its charm.

All improvements are clearly visible and limited to exposed concrete, larch wood as well as black steel and glass. A photovoltaic system and solar panels collect solar energy. Surplus energy collected in summer is stored in the rock via the geothermal probe and can then be used as a climate-neutral energy source in winter.

Otzi Peak 3251m, Italy. Photo: Alex Filz

Otzi Peak 3251m, Italy (Gold: Landmarks, Symbolic Structures, Memorials, Public)

Otzi Peak 3251m is located at the top of the Schnals Valley Glacier, where Italy’s impressive alpine landscape soars high above the reservoir below.

To let visitors experience the breathtaking ride to the mountain station and get to know the history of this alpine wonderland, noa* network of architecture designed a unique viewing platform. A geometric funnel was cut into the platform to direct viewers’ eyes towards the place where Otzi the Iceman – an ancient mummified human body – was found on the Italian-Austrian border by German tourist Helmut Simon in 1991.

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INTERIOR DESIGN

Switch Bahrain, Bahrain (Interior Design Of The Year)

The Switch Bahrain restaurant was named Interior Design Of The Year at the International Design Awards 2020. Photo: indpt company

The idea behind Switch is to change the dining standards and create an environment where dining becomes once again an “experience”, not just a necessity. With a modern, futuristic design and an international menu of scrumptious fusion dishes, the restaurant is an exciting addition to the culinary scene in Bahrain.

“I wanted Switch to be a strong vision composed of walls that wrap around the space. The design creates an interesting texture for light and shadow, evoking the sand dunes in the desert. It is a unique environment that completely envelops the guests, ” said designer Karim Rashid.

Guangzhou Yuexiu Xingyue Mountainside Sales Center, Guangzhou, China. (Gold: Commercial)

The project combines and reconstructs the natural laws of “turning cocoons into butterflies” with artistic imagination, forming a complete design framework – gestation, transformation and completion. In accordance with the architectural characteristics, the project manages to arrange a proper function division.

While maintaining the order of the space, the project gives the space a harmonious background. Also, designers bring the abstract butterfly wing elements into the project which echoes with the space theme.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand (Gold: Hotels & Resorts)

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: George Apostolidis/ Jinnawat Borihankijanan

Throughout its 143-year history, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has been an icon of this vibrant city.

The River Wing renovation is a stunning complement to the Authors’ and Garden Wing refurbishment and has been meticulously designed to recognise the property’s heritage while ensuring its continued position as one of the world’s top hotels.

Extensive craftsmanship rejuvenated the space, from carpet design to iconic lobby bells, Bodhi leaf silk textile and murals painted in traditional temple technique.

Times Pavilion, Guangdong, China (Gold: Museum, Exhibits, Pavilions and Exhibitions)

Located in Yue Xiu District of Guangdong, Times Pavilion has a total area of 1,200sq m which allows visitors to experience Times China Companies’ corporate culture.

In the pavilion, lead designer Teng Gu uses the concept of “revelation” to expound the brand interpretation of Times China, and extracts three key words: “space”, “matter” and “energy” to respond to the concept in this design.

In this space, LED screen, atomised stainless steel and polished slab stainless steel are used to create the sense of hierarchy and penetration of space.

Malangen, Malangen peninsula, Northern Norway (Gold: Sustainable Living/Green & Gold: Residential)

The conceptual layout was conceived by lead designer Snorre Stinessen as several individual volumes connected via in-between spaces and a central winter garden, placed on a natural shelf in the terrain. The organisation provides both privacy and room for several activities at the same time.

The central winter garden, with fireplace and outdoor kitchen, function as the entrance to the building. Each group of rooms is done as separate volumes to achieve an additional layer of privacy, but also to emphasise the transition between spaces and activities and tell a story of everyday journeys.