Another Habitus House of the Year program is over! In 2025, the awards reaching their biggest level yet – showcasing 26 shortlisted projects from across the whole Asia-Pacific region. While New South Wales – and Australia more generally – dominated, there were standout projects from India, Indonesia, Japan and New Zealand. This year also saw the largest jury yet convened for Habitus House of the Year, as 13 respected designers joined our editors for a day of judging at Winnings’ Richmond showroom in Melbourne.
It all reached a climax on the evening of Thursday 4th December at Winnings Redfern, where several hundred members of the design community gathered for the awards party. The emphasis is shared – both awards and party – because House of the Year is a deliberately compact, focused program rather than a grand, stuffy awards show. In 2024, around 600 guests enjoyed live opera singing, interpretative dance and extensive hospitality offerings.
Despite the Melbourne jury, it was Sydney that stole the show with award wins. Three trophy-winners are based in Sydney and were in attendance to receive their awards from Editor and MC, Timothy Alouani-Roby.
First, the biggest award of the night – the Habitus House of the Year 2025 – went to Anthony Gill Architects for Clifton House, located in Bondi.
Second, the Editor’s Choice Award was given to Jason Gibney (JGDW) for Amongst the Eucalypts, a project located several hours north of Sydney by Seal Rocks. Even the client was in attendance to accept the award with the architect.
During the year, Gill and Gibney in fact joined each other for a STORIESINDESIGN conversation about the respective projects. They discussed the similarities between their apparently unrelated houses, and you can listen to the full interview here.
Third, the Winnings Award for Emerging Talent saw a tough field of competitors including Anthony St John Parsons and Lara Maeseele. The winner, however, was Architect George, whose projects House in Erskineville and Apartment in Double Bay II were shortlisted in 2025 and 2024 respectively.
Finally, the People’s Choice Award – voted for by our readers – went to the only Indian project, Soft Serve by MuseLAB. Set within a high-rise building in Thane, its creamy, saccharine palette lacquers the interiors of the 29th floor apartment. The project explores the semantics of comfort through the prism of Seijaku – the Japanese philosophical principle of tranquillity within stillness.
“The curves are curving and MuseLAB is serving,” said Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani (below left), co-founders of MuseLAB. The pair received their award by video message, with x and y in attendance on their behalf to accept it.
“We’re really honoured to win the People’s Choice Award – it’s just a wild dream come true,” the MuseLAB founders added. “Actually, being nominated as the only Indian firm was already a big win in itself for us.”
Formalities were kept to a minimum so that guests could mingle, eat and be merry, while the Winnings venue provided indoor and outdoor variety. Attendees were able to enjoy oysters, champagne, charcuterie, cocktail stations, Mary’s burgers and more, across indoor and outdoor areas at the Redfern showroom. We extend a huge thank you to our readers, jurors, party attendees, shortlisters and all the wonderful design practices we deal with year-round – and of course to our partners: Winnings, Rogerseller and Billi.
