Founded by leading appliance brand Gaggenau in October 2020, the Kitchen of the Year Design Contest was created to honour truly unique and outstanding kitchen design. Open to industry professionals across Australia, the contest sought designs defined by a pursuit of excellence.
Gaggenau appliances adorn the most luxurious kitchens worldwide and the contest offered the German brand an opportunity to recognize the design trailblazers behind some of the most spectacular interiors.
The winners were:
- Best of the Best and Winner for Southern region – Fitzroy Project by Robert Nichols and Sons.
- Winner for Northern region – Hall 20 by Smart Design Studio.
- Runner-up for Southern region – St Huberts by Robson Rak.
- Runner-up for Northern region – Penthouse II by Lawless and Meyerson.
- Commendations – 97 Mathoura Road Toorak by Carr and Habitus Townhomes by DKO Architecture.
Best of the Best and Winner for Southern region – Fitzroy Project by Robert Nichol and Sons
Fitzroy Project by Robert Nichol and Sons was not only named the Winner for the Southern region but also took the Best of the Best award, coming through as the contest’s overall winner.
“This competition is a great opportunity to showcase and reward excellence in kitchen design. It is heightened by the fact it is hosted by a brand regarded as an industry-leading producer of premium kitchen appliances,” says David Nicholson, Director of Robert Nichol and Sons.
“Kitchen design is often the most challenging of all the rooms of a home, so any opportunity to showcase and promote what we have achieved next to our peers is valuable and rewarding. We are very proud of this kitchen and feel honoured to be considered among so many strong contenders.”
David thinks that texture is one of the elements that made their design stand out. “It’s interesting that of the 12 finalists, we were the only entry to feature a wall tile. This is a feature that we consider a hallmark of our projects, and we love the opportunities they present, in this case, the strong vertical lines and rich colour,” he explains.
“Texture is something we love. We recognize it’s not just a tactile experience, but a visual one too. In a project such as a kitchen where there are so many disparate elements, we see texture as an opportunity to introduce a mix of finishes, creating strong surface variations and producing a focal point within the home.”
“Winning is amazing, not only as recognition for our design but also against the calibre of the fellow finalists,” David adds. “What we are seeing in this selection is just how far kitchen design has progressed, where kitchens have now become the statement piece for house design.”
Winner for Northern region – Hall 20 by Smart Design Studio
Smart Design Studio’s striking, monolithic kitchen was named the Winner for the Northern region. “Given the depth and strength of the Australian design industry, it was humbling to be shortlisted,” says Aaron Wooster, Smart Design Studio’s head of interiors.
Runner-ups – St Huberts by Robson Rak and Penthouse II by Lawless and Meyerson
With sweeping harbour views and a robust kitchen island grounding the space, the refined Penthouse II design by Lawless and Meyerson was selected as the Runner-up for the Northern region.
In reflecting the materiality of a period home, St Hubert’s elegant kitchen space by Robson Rak is the Runner-up for the Southern region.
The sleek kitchen of the innovative Habitus Townhomes by DKO Architecture and the sophisticated space of Mathoura Road by Carr were both also recognized as the Commendations of this year’s contest.
Prizes and jury
The Best of the Best National winner will receive an exclusive trip to Europe, including two return business airfares, seven days in Europe – including one Gaggenau factory tour at Lipsheim, France – one culinary experience for two people, six nights of accommodation in a five-star hotel and hotel transfers.
The winner and runner up for each region will both receive one culinary experience for two people within Australia, the prize includes: two domestic return economy airfares, two nights of accommodation in a five-star hotel and hotel transfers.
The winners were selected by an esteemed jury comprising six design industry experts, each lending their knowledge and expertise.
The jury included:
- Sue Carr (principal and founder, Carr).
- Clement Lee (founder, Riverlee).
- Miriam Fanning (founder, Mim Design).
- Damian Hannah (German Kitchens NZ).
- Raj Nandan (founder, CEO and publisher, Indesign Media Asia Pacific).
- Neil Burley (founder, Anibou).
- Rob Warner (general manager, Gaggenau).
