Winners revealed: 2019 Eat Drink Design Awards

Australia’s most exceptionally designed hospitality venues were celebrated at the 2019 Eat Drink Design Awards, which were announced at a ceremony in Melbourne on Tuesday 12 November.

The jury said, “There was one word that arose over and over during our deliberations: restraint.”

“The principle of restraint marked every single winner, as well as many commendations, though it was expressed in myriad ways.”

In 2019, there was a marked increase in entries from regional locations, which was also reflected in the winners of the awards.

“From a pink-hued bar in a country town with barely over 2,000 people, to a future-focused CBD restaurant, this year’s winners are very geographically diverse, indicating that in Australia, good design transcends location. It’s something that has permeated out to our suburbs and our regional areas, which should be applauded,” said Cassie Hansen, jury chair and editor of Artichoke magazine.

The jury also selected one iconic hospitality venue to enter the Eat Drink Design Awards Hall of Fame. Venues considered for this accolade have achieved a level of cultural significance as well as demonstrating longevity in an industry often categorized as transient.

The 2019 jury comprised Besha Rodell (restaurant critic for the New York Times’ Australia bureau), Nathan Toleman (restauranteur, CEO and founder of the Mulberry Group), Graham Charbonneau (co-founder of Studio Gram), Phillip Schemnitz (architect of Cookie, the 2018 Hall of Fame inductee) and Cassie Hansen (editor of Artichoke magazine).

Find more information on these projects in the full list of winners below.

2019 Eat Drink Design Awards

Best Bar Design

Blacksmith Lake MulwalaThe Stella Collective

Best Restaurant Design

Di Stasio CittaHassell

Best Cafe Design

Via Porta Studio Esteta

Best Installation Design

The Magic BoxLiminal Objects with Van Tuil

Best Retail Design

Piccolina CollingwoodHecker Guthrie

Best Hotel Design – joint winners

DrifthouseMultiplicity

The Calile HotelRichards and Spence

Best Identity Design

LagottoStudio Hi Ho

Hall of Fame

Cumulus IncPascale Gomes-McNabb

Commendations

See the 14 commended projects across seven categories.

Winners, commended projects and the shortlist are all featured in Artichoke 69, along with a full jury overview. View all the entries and more images at the Eat Drink Design Awards gallery.

The 2019 Eat Drink Design Awards are organized by Architecture Media and supported by major partner Chandon Australia; supporting partners Harbour, Latitude, Ownworld, Roca and Tasmanian Timber and event partners Four Pillars Gin, Jetty Road Brewery and S.Pellegrino.

The Eat Drink Design Awards are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia.

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