Eat-Drink Design Awards Australia, 2013 Shortlist | Yellowtrace.

 

The annual Eat-Drink-Design Awards has announced the 2013 shortlist for eighty-one projects from across Australia and New Zealand. This initiative recognises design excellence in the hospitality arena, and is the only awards program in Australasia that celebrates the relationship between eating and drinking experiences and good design. There is no doubt Australian collective design efforts have previously focussed heavily on the residential sector – we all know that Australian architects & interiors designers know how to design beautiful homes really, really well – just check out any shortlist of previous design awards, and residential category is almost always the longest and strongest by far. Needless to say, it is really fantastic to see our hospitality sector maturing and realising the importance of good design, in line with the rest of the world. Clients are developing an appetite for sophisticated venues, and the industry as a whole is raising the bar and creating a benchmark of excellence in Australia. Love it.

This year’s judging panel brought together the expertise of the design and hospitality communities, including chef and restaurateur Christine Manfield, author and food writer John Birmingham, architect Domenic Alvaro, design writer Rachel Hurst and Cameron Bruhn of Architecture Media.

Here are just a few of my favourites. By the way, huge congratulations to all shortlisted entries. Gold stars from team Yellowtrace. Boom.

 

Prahran Hotel by Techne Architects | Yellowtrace.

Prahran Hotel by Techne Architects. Photo by Peter Clarke.

Gazi by March Studio | Yellowtrace.

Gazi by March Studio. Photo by Mark Ashkanasy.

Tonka Restaurant by Techne Architects | Yellowtrace.

Tonka Restaurant by Techne Architects. Photo by Shannon McGrath.

The Town Mouse by Allistar Cox Architecture | Yellowtrace.

The Town Mouse by Allistar Cox Architecture.

Top Paddock Cafe by Six Degrees Architects and Nathan Toleman | Yellowtrace.

Top Paddock Cafe by Six Degrees Architects and Nathan Toleman. Photo by Albert Comper.

Rozzi's Italian Canteen in Melbourne by Mim Design | Yellowtrace.

Rozzi’s Italian Canteen in Melbourne by Mim Design. Photo by Shannon McGrath.

Mitchelton Winery by Hecker Guthrie | Yellowtrace.

Mitchelton Winery by Hecker Guthrie. Photo by Shannon McGrath.

Gordon Street Garage by Foolscap Studio | Yellowtrace.

Gordon Street Garage by Foolscap Studio. Photo by Penny Lane Photography.

St Ali North by Barbara and Fellows | Yellowtrace.

St Ali North by Barbara and Fellows. Photo by Tracey Lee Hayes.

The Smith Restaurant & Bar by GMS Hospitality | Yellowtrace.

The Smith Restaurant & Bar by GMS Hospitality. Photo by Dianna Snape.

Captain Melville bar and restaurant by Breathe Architecture, Melbourne | Yellowtrace.

Captain Melville bar and restaurant by Breathe Architecture. Photo by Andrew Wuttke.

Foxes Den by Hecker Guthrie | Yellowtrace.

Foxes Den by Hecker Guthrie. Photo by Shannon McGrath.

 

Fonda Mexican Windsor by Techne Architects | Yellowtrace.

Fonda Mexican, Windsor by Techne Architects. Photo by Tom Blachford.

Esquire by Hassell | Yellowtrace.

Esquire by Hassell. Photo by Roger D’Souza.

The Meatball Wine Bar by Eades and Bergman | Yellowtrace.

The Meatball Wine Bar by Eades and Bergman. Photo by Nicole England.

The Grain Store by Betty and Wolff | Yellowtrace.

The Grain Store by Betty and Wolff. Photo by Patrick Rodriguez.

Green Beacon Brewing Company by James Cubitt Architects | Yellowtrace.

Green Beacon Brewing Company by James Cubitt Architects. Photo by Roger D’Souza.

Kitchen by Mike on Wheels by Koskela | Yellowtrace.

Kitchen by Mike on Wheels by Koskela. Photo by Ashley Jones.

Butcher by Doherty Lynch | Yellowtrace.

Butcher by Doherty Lynch. Photo by Derek Swalwell.

Dukes Flinders Lane by Chris Connell Design | Yellowtrace.

Dukes Flinders Lane by Chris Connell Design. Photo by Earl Carter.

 

8 Responses

  2. jennykeem

    Impressive! Techne is certainly doing very well.
    Also Melbourne is overpowering Sydney… again lol
    I wonder if they take into consideration whether the design enhances the income of the business – rather than simply looking at its aesthetic qualities.
    Great read :)

    Reply
  3. Pablo Beluga

    Are these all photos of the same job? Whats going on here? are hospitality owners (who are generally pretty decisive and entrepreneurial) dictating all of these interiors?, are design publishers only looking for a single specific type of shot of a single type of fit out? Is the economic situation such that there is zero appetite for risk hence every “me too” fit out? Are these established firms running out of new ideas?

    The only stuff that looks at all different is the HG work. And that’s because they went out on a limb and used orange rather than black. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff.

    I know this is going to make me sound like a pompous ass but these jobs are all a check list of ideas that were tired 5 years ago.

    I’m seeing conservatism and possibly worse, stagnation.

    Reply
  4. Joseph

    Good design isn’t about creating new fashions for the 2013 season, Pablo. Having an entitled whinge is not exactly original. Can you create something better yourself?

    Reply

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