Victorian designers win big at Eat Drink Design Awards

Victorian designers wore a path to the winners' podium at this year's Eat Drink Design Awards, picking up six of the eight gongs.

The awards, recognising excellence and innovation in the design of restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, nightclubs, temporary venues and retail spaces across Australia and New Zealand, were announced on November 13.

The winners were chosen by a jury of industry veterans from the hospitality and design professions. This year's jurors included Cassie Hansen (editor, Artichoke magazine), Nathan Toleman (CEO and founder, The Mulberry Group), Graham Charbonneau (architect and co-founder, Studio-Gram), Phillip Schemnitz (architect, Phillip Schemnitz Architects), and Besha Rodell (New York Times restaurant critic),

Most of this year's entries came from Melbourne and Victoria. "Perhaps this indicates that good design will always be a strong part of Melbourne's identity, and for a venue to survive in this city, it must be a whole package – great design meets great food and service," says Cassie Hansen, the jury chair.

One of the key trends the jury observed this year was the return of 1970s Italian-style design, with arches, circles and terrazzo increasingly making the transition. "It has influences of mid-century design but also of the elegant luxury of Italian villas."

The Eat Drink Design Award 2019 winners

Best Restaurant Design: Di Stasio Citta, Melbourne, designed by Hassell.

Best Cafe Design: Via Porta, Mont Albert, designed by Studio Esteta.

Best Bar Design: Blacksmith, Lake Mulwala, NSW, designed by The Stella Collective.

Best Hotel Design (joint winner): The Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, designed by Richards and Spence; Drift house, Port Fairy, designed by Multiplicity.

Best Installation Design: The Magic Box designed by Liminal Objects, Tasmania.

Best Retail Design: Piccolina, Collingwood, designed by Hecker Guthrie.

Best Identity Design: Lagotto, Fitzroy North, designed by Studio Hi Ho.

Hall of Fame: Cumulus Inc, Melbourne, designed by Pascale Gomes-McNabb.