A rural residence in Victoria, a memorial chapel, and a woodchip-laden showcase for designer furniture were among the winners in this year’s Australian Interior Design Awards.

The awards presentation took place on Friday in Melbourne’s Docklands.

The winners spanned design practices large and small, working with a variety of briefs and budgets.

The Premier Award for Interior Design Excellence and Innovation went to Wolveridge Architects for the Hill Plain House (pictured).

Hill Plain House, Photography: Derek Swalwell

The jury said: "Use of materials and lighting in the project represent a confident interior design philosophy that achieves regional identity and connection in a fresh and unprecedented way."

The jury also praised the project’s environmental credentials, noting its discreet incorporation of sustainable design principles without resorting to a traditional eco aesthetic.

Hill Plain House, Photography: Derek Swalwell

For the first time this year’s Australian Interior Design Awards incorporated the Sustainability Advancement Award.

Selected from winning projects in other categories, the overarching prize was awarded to BVN Architecture’s Puckapunyal Military Area Chapel, located in regional Victoria.

The jury commented: "…the project highlights how sustainability can be expressed without an explicit "eco" aesthetic. The project’s essential purpose and function also contribute to a deeper notion of social sustainability that is mindful of diverse cultures and beliefs."

The winning projects in the 2011 Australian Interior Design Awards are:

PREMIER AWARD FOR INTERIOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

Winner

Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

SUSTAINABILITY ADVANCEMENT AWARD

Winner

BVN Architecture for Puckapunyal Military Area Memorial Chapel, Vic

CORPORATE DESIGN AWARD

Winner

Wilson Architects for Wilson Architects Office, Qld

Highly Commended

Hassell for ANZ Centre, Vic

BVN Architecture BVN Sydney Studio Fitout, NSW

HOSPITALITY DESIGN AWARD

Winner

Bates Smart for Crown Metropol, Vic

Highly Commended

Chada for Westin Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Coop Creative for the Spicers Balfour Hotel, Qld

Hecker Guthrie for The Millswyn, Vic

Mim Design with Cornwell for Capital Kitchen, Vic

Pascale Gomes-McNabb in collaboration with McNabb Gomes Architects for Stokehouse, Vic

INSTALLATION DESIGN AWARD

Winner

Edwards Moore for Fringe Furniture 2010, Vic

Highly Commended

Nexus Designs and ACCA in collaboration for NEW010, Vic

Carr Design Group for Norton Rose Signage Installation, NSW

Gloss Creative and Lava for Shells: Architects of the Ocean, Myer Spring Summer Collection Launch 2010/2011, NSW

LAVA for Digital Origami Tigers, NSW

PUBLIC DESIGN AWARD

Winner

BVN Architecture for Puckapunyal Military Area Memorial Chapel, Vic

Highly Commended

Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp for Bayside Police Station, Sandringham, Vic

Spowers and NMBW Architecture Studio for RMIT Melbourne Campus — Building 88, Levels 5 and 6, Vic

Suters Architects for Maribyrnong Secondary College, Vic

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AWARD

Winner

Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

Highly Commended

Architects EAT for Open House, Vic

Edwards Moore for Cubby House, Vic

Ian Moore Architects for Strelein Warehouse, NSW

Renato D'Ettorre Architects for Solis, Qld

Tribe Studio for House Shmukler, NSW

Inarc Architects for Barwon Heads House, Vic

RESIDENTIAL DECORATION AWARD

Winner

Hare + Klein Interior Design for Federation Revival, NSW

Highly Commended

Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

RETAIL DESIGN AWARD

Winner

Ryan Russell for Russell & George for Crumpler, Vic

Highly Commended

Interni for Saxony World Square, NSW

Mim Design with Diadem for Joy Cupcakes, Vic

COLOUR IN RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AWARD

Winner

James Russell Architect for Home, Small Gallery and Office in West End, Qld

Highly Commended

Renato D'Ettorre Architects for Bennelong Apartment Circular Quay, NSW

Renato D'Ettorre Architects for Solis, Qld

Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

COLOUR IN COMMERCIAL DESIGN AWARD

Winner

Herbert & Mason for Bleu, Vic

Highly Commended

Bates Smart for Crown Metropol, Vic

Brooking Design Practice for B-Shed Ferry Port Terminal, WA

Hassell for ANZ Centre, Vic

Mim Design with Diadem for Joy Cupcakes, Vic

Ryan Russell for Russell & George for Crumpler, Vic

Snell for Maurice Dry Cleaners, NSW

Morris Selvatico for Twisted Frozen Yoghurt, NSW

EMERGING INTERIOR DESIGN PRACTICE AWARD

Winner

Edwards Moore

Highly Commended

Wonder

Foolscap Studio

Judging for the Australian Interior Design Awards is conducted under the supervision of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) in accordance with the protocols of the International Federation of Interior Architects / Interior Designers.

The 2011 jury comprised Daniel Dalla Riva, 6 Hats (Vic), Pascale Gomes McNabb, Pascale Gomes McNabb (Vic); Libby Guj, JCY Architects and Urban Designers (WA); Greg Natale, Greg Natale Design (NSW); Susan Rossi, DBI Design (Qld); Matthew Sheargold, Sheargold (NSW); Ninotschka Titchkosky, BVN Architecture (Vic); and Kirrilly Wilson, John Wardle Architects (Vic); with ESD chairperson John Gertsakis, WSP Environment & Energy (Vic); and jury convenor Joanne Cys, Immediate Past National President, Design Institute of Australia.

For more information, visit www.australianinteriordesignawards.com