Symbolplus Office has won Dezeen Awards 2025 interiors project of the year following the announcement of all 13 interiors category winners at a party in London.
The 13 winners awarded in Dezeen’s annual awards programme are located in seven different countries including Japan, France, Canada, UK and Singapore.
Symbolplus Office by Japanese studio Symbolplus won the prestigious interiors project of the year award, sponsored by Gaggenau. It was also named workplace interior (small) project of the year, sponsored by Framery.
The interiors master jury praised the office space in Tokyo for being “so on point in terms of how we want to live and what we should create – both in our use of materials and our understanding of context”.
“It’s a fantastic example of how a contemporary interior can be sustainable and respect the past, but also transport you to another world,” they continued. “It’s authentic yet futuristic, a perfect merging of two worlds.”
Symbolplus’ office won Dezeen Awards 2025 interiors project of the year
The winning project of the year was up against category winners including a knife gallery also in Tokyo, a workplace championing British crafts in London and a skatepark in a glass box in central Shanghai.
A residence in Paris informed by the vibrant nightlife of London’s “swinging sixties” and a traditional wooden house in Kyoto turned-Japanese-Mexican fusion cafe and eatery were also amongst the category winners.
Read more about all the winning interiors projects below:
Photo by Keishin Horikoshi
Interiors project of the year and workplace interior (small) of the year: Symbolplus Office by Symbolplus
Natural materials including warm earthen plaster and delicate Japanese paper informed the renovation fit out for Symbolplus’ own office in Tokyo.
“This project is both grounded and futuristic,” said the judges. “Traditional Japanese materials provide warmth, but are applied in a contemporary way, giving hints of Space Odyssey.”
“The sliding partitions and tilting panels create a space that is highly flexible as a workplace,” they continued. “But you could also forget that you’re in an office, which must be wonderful for the well-being of anyone working there.”
Read more about Symbolplus Office by Symbolplus ›
Photo by Jovian Lim
Residential interior (small) of the year: In a Park by L Architects
A flat redesigned to accommodate its owners’ expanding collection of plants in Singapore won residential interior (small) of the year.
“This project offers a real living experience,” said the interiors master jury. “It’s very personal – you really sense the homeowner – but there is also something very cinematic and nostalgic about it.”
“There’s a tension in this combination of the bricks and the living plants, but there’s also a softness and a sense of warmth,” they continued.
Photo by Alice Mesguish
Residential interior (large) of the year: Apartment in Bois de Boulogne by Studio Asaï
French design firm Studio Asaï was awarded large residential interior of the year for its 320-square-metre apartment overlooking the Bois de Boulogne in Paris.
The apartment features a rich colour palette and unique textures as the interior’s original craftsmanship is blended with new materials such as Foresso – a wood terrazzo made from recycled trees.
The judges said, “the designers have been very experimental and brave in the way they used colour in this traditional setting”.
“There is harmony but also restraint in the combination of colours, materials and textures,” they continued. “It’s an unexpected palette with a sense of British eccentricity, but it still retains a classic Parisian elegance.”
Read more about Apartment in Bois de Boulogne by Studio Asaï ›
Photo by Ste Marie
Restaurant interior of the year: Olia, Mimi and Va Caffè at Citizen on Jasper by Ste Marie
A trio of interconnected yet materially distinct hospitality venues – each offering a different culinary experience – designed by Canadian studio Ste Marie won restaurant interior of the year.
“This is a beautiful project with a real timeless elegance,” said the jury. “There are many different moments and every one has been taken seriously.”
“There’s a lot of integrity and it feels like a space that will endure, rather than go out of fashion,” they continued.
Read more about Olia, Mimi and Va Caffè at Citizen on Jasper by Ste Marie ›
Photo by Takumi Ota
Bar and cafe interior of the year: Challe by UNC Studio
The bold transformation of a traditional wooden house in Kyoto into a Japanese-Mexican fusion cafe and eatery by local firm UNC Studio won bar and cafe interior of the year.
“The design language of this project is very rich,” said the jury. “It’s a masterclass in how to create an atmosphere with very little intervention.”
“The designers worked hard to weave their pattern through the existing building fabric, doing little but doing it very well,” they continued.
Read more about Challe by UNC Studio ›
Photo by Wen Studio
Highly commended bar and cafe interior of the year: BlueBottle Coffee at West Bund by Atelier Tao+C
A cafe featuring soaring wooden canopies stretched out above a prefabricated concrete counter, situated in a historic shipyard in West Bund, Shanghai was highly commended in the bar and cafe interior category.
“We loved how the designers brought a bespoke feel to this chain coffee shop,” the interiors jury said. “You can see the level of care and precision that has been applied here, responding directly to the history of the building and the surroundings.”
Read more about BlueBottle Coffee at West Bund by Atelier Tao+C ›
Photo by Kenta Hasegawa
Hotel and short-stay interior of the year: Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji by Studio Aluc
Tokyo-based Studio Aluc transformed a historic machiya residence – a type of traditional Japanese townhouse – into a short-stay hotel in Kyoto, winning hotel and short-stay interior of the year, sponsored by Marazzi.
“When working within existing buildings, architects and interior designers have a responsibility to give them a new life,” the judges said. “Here, that really resonates. Old and new come together in a whole that feels contemporary, even though it looks warm and aged.”
“The project speaks to the Japanese philosophy of embracing darkness and celebrating natural, raw materials,” they continued.
Read more about Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji by Studio Aluc ›
Photo by Felix Speller
Workplace interior (large) of the year: Norton Folgate by Universal Design Studio
Universal Design Studio won workplace interior (large), sponsored by Framery, for the Norton Folgate offices in Spitalfields which highlight British makers, honouring the area’s historical ties to craft industries.
A texturally rich project, it features bespoke woven curtains, red oak joinery, an enamel meeting table and solid elm wood kitchen tables.
“This project cleverly uses objects to tell stories about the industrial craft heritage of its location,” said the master jury. “We loved the juxtaposition of different materials and details; you can tell that every piece was carefully curated.”
“We particularly enjoyed the artwork styling and how the spaces connect architecturally, from floor finishes to bespoke furniture,” they continued.
Read more about Norton Folgate by Universal Design Studio ›
Photo by Masaaki Inoue
Retail interior (small) of the year: Tojiro Knife Gallery Osaka by L/O and Katata Yoshihito Design
A knife shop tucked away in Osaka’s renowned kitchenware arcade alley, designed to evoke traditional Japanese wood panel cladding methods, by L/O and Katata Yoshihito Design, won retail interior (small) of the year.
“The product design language is meticulously carried through the space; everything seems to be cut or bladed,” said the judges.
“There’s a strong sense of narrative, but it’s also really fluid. There’s an element of theatricality, but it’s not just theatre for theatre’s sake. It actually has meaning in terms of promoting the durability of the product.”
Read more about Tojiro Knife Gallery Osaka by L/O and Katata Yoshihito Design ›
Photo by Salva López
Highly commended retail interior (small) of the year: Aesop Store Las Salesas by Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari
Aesop’s Las Salesas store in Madrid featuring ceramic mosaics and hammered glass, designed by architecture studio Ciszak Dalmas and Spanish architect Matteo Ferrari, was highly commended in the retail interior (small) category.
“This brand has developed a winning formula for applying its design language to different historic contexts and narratives,” said the judges.
“This project demonstrates a deep understanding of local material craft, but puts a completely new spin on it.”
Read more about Aesop Store Las Salesas by Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari ›
Photo by Jonathan Leijonhufvud
Retail interior (large) of the year: Sigma Space by Onoaa Studio
A pared-back minimalist photography showroom, which also features a small gallery, designed by Chinese firm Onoaa Studio for manufacturer Sigma, won retail interior (large) of the year.
“This project looks precision-engineered, with an emphasis on simplicity and honesty,” said the jury. “The product does the talking, but there’s also an element of maintenance and repair that’s visible to consumers.”
“Just as a camera captures moments, there are moments in this space that create feelings of wonder, melancholy and nostalgia,” they continued. “When you zoom in closer, you notice even more depth in the use of light, materials and textures.”
Read more about Sigma Space by Onoaa Studio ›
Photo by CL studio
Leisure and wellness interior of the year: Moreprk Skyline by AAN Architects
An indoor skatepark suspended in a glass box which overlooks central Shanghai won leisure and wellness interior of the year.
Local firm AAN Architects created a sunken undulating bowl made from concrete reinforced with steel to anchor the dynamic space.
“It’s great to see a space with high commercial value used in a way that creates culture and community,” commented the judges.
“It’s filled with clever design details, from the way the ceiling mirrors the space below, to the way lighting and handrail details follow the same curvature. It’s a fully immersive experience, translated across every element in the space.”
Read more about Moreprk Skyline by AAN Architects ›
Photo by Maasaki Inoue
Exhibition design (interior) of the year: The Age of Wood by Christian + Jade
Copenhagen-based Christian + Jade worked with furniture brand Karimoku on an exhibition that chronicles the vast spectrum of Japanese tree species, winning exhibition design (interior) of the year.
“There is a quiet beauty to this exhibition, which we found both poetic and educational,” said the interiors jury. “The thoughtful approach to storytelling brings a human expression to material research.”
“It succeeds in bringing trees to life, offering a deeper understanding of the material lifecycle and the importance of circularity,” it continued.
Read more about The Age of Wood by Christian + Jade ›
Photo by Felix Speller
Kitchen interior of the year: Pine Heath Kitchen by Studio Hagen Hall
A refurbishment of a 1960s townhouse in Hampstead, London won kitchen interior of the year 2025.
Studio Hagen Hall used a rich palette of cherry wood and stainless steel to complement the preexisting mid-century design.
The interiors master jury enjoyed the kitchen’s relationship with the dining area and said that “the use of light and apertures creates the sense of room within a room.”
“The details and junctions are expertly considered, and there is a joyful sense of nostalgia,” they continued.
Read more about Pine Heath Kitchen by Studio Hagen Hall ›
Photo by Dave Wheeler
Bathroom interior of the year: Kilmory House by Jillian Dinkel
The bathrooms of a house redevelopment situated on a 20th-century arts and crafts estate in Sydney, Australia, won bathroom interior of the year.
Interior designer Jillian Dinkel referenced Australia’s arts and crafts legacy in the home, which was designed exclusively for entertaining, hosting private dinners and parties in style – including its richly decorative powder rooms, embodying its whimsical yet refined character.
“We admired the mix of materials in this project,” said the judges. “The contrast between the stainless steel and natural stone is a great show of craftsmanship, while details like the timber joinery and spa bath contribute to an overall sense of calm.”
Read more about Kilmory House by Jillian Dinkel ›
Dezeen Awards 2025 in partnership with Bentley
Dezeen Awards is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The eighth edition of the annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley’s architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world.