10 iF design award 2021 winners open homes to stimulating interior design

amongst hundreds of submissions, iF design award 2021 enters homes to inspire creative, perceptive and foremost comfortable design. the 10 winning residential projects shine light on luxurious concrete structures and cozy timber cabins, each inspiring completely different characters and ways of living. whether surrounded by a swimming pool or a garden, the designers elevate the interiors in linear villas, picturesque courtyard houses, or fairy-tale like houses in the woods from spain to in japan.

to inspire the countless ways of interior design, the 10 iF design award 2021 winners offer a diverse selection of creative and captivating homes.

name: the great flowing river
manufacturing: chien’s residence, mori design group co. ltd.
designers: mori design group co. ltd.

swooshing and sparkling, ‘the great flowing river’ reflects the riverbank scenery of where the project is located. by the xindian river close to taipei, the taiwanese project in italian manufactured seves glass ushers a calming ambience that brings together east and west, all through the application of the japanese SA fair-faced concrete. the contrasting yet similarly shaded materials create a space of movement and tranquility.

name: house 1/2
manufacturing: hide lin
designers: hide lin (design director), dannis lin (project designer), afei lee (project designer)

illuminated in the evening like a kerosene lamp in the dappled shade of the trees, ‘house 1/2’ is coated with a layer of offline coziness. with the core spirit to reopen perceptions that have been clouded by the busy urban life, the cabin becomes a process of symbiosis with the surrounding environment. to fortify the idea of extending the offline living to the outside, the barbecue grill becomes a kitchen while the camping chairs enter the living room. moreover, the taiwanese structure is built in just 6 weeks as a 100% tongue and groove house.

name: cover
designers: apollo architects & associates ltd.

in a high-density residential district in tokyo’s suburbs, the japanese house ‘cover’ was commissioned by a designer at a large real estate company. to alter the compact construction, a large opening in he roof lets in abundant natural light making the space feel more expansive. furthermore, to protect the privacy of the residents, the first floor is shielded from visibility from the street through a metallic structural skin on the roof and exterior walls.

name: white purity
designers: JIA studios llp

breaking away from norms of residential interiors, the singaporean owners of ‘white purity’ wanted something different and futuristic. inspired by the cci-fi movie passengers, the house in monochromatic flowing curves elevates the airflow in and around through the fluidity and organic design. by blurring the line between informal and formal rooms, the cleanliness of the white creates a dynamic immersive environment, whether through the lighting or bold lines. 

name: oranque
designers: kiriko design office

to feel closer to nature while remaining in the town, the owners of japanese home ‘oranque’ relax comfortablly in the wooden semi-outdoors space. in order to hide the windows and also improve the insulation performance for heat and solar shading, a double skin on the façade is constructed. like overlaying patterns, both the indoors and out bring a calming complexity of the wooden theme. 

name: honest house
manufacturing: kimura kougyo co., ltd.
designers: OGATAYOHEI

with a design that appeals to the residents’ five senses, the japanese ‘honest house’ intimately suits the environment, climate, natural features and sensibility of its users. due to the large supply of off-the-shelf homes (houses built with generalized equipment and specifications), houses in japan do not tend to express the individual character of each resident. with a focus on living, the architect worked closely with the clients, eventually creating a personal experience and comfort.

name: inHAUS 
manufacturing: casas inHAUS sl
designers: fran silvestre arquitectos (FSA)

the spanish professional concept project ‘inHAUS’ is the representation of how technological advances of stronger and lighter materials enable full creative freedom, finally making it possible for industrialized high-end architecture to become a reality. in turnkey solutions, the house is respectful of the environment following an integral management that guarantees deadlines and fixed prices. reflected upon the turquoise waters, the architects approach industrialization through the history of contemporary architecture. 

name: six-direction meditation courtyard house
manufacturing: ICI Architecture
designers: ICI Architecture: jiayao huang, kejing chen, daifei che, wang lei, wenwei cai, qiulong ye

following the buddhist philosophy of six directions, the chinese project also integrates the architecture into the environment of those elements: east, west, south, north, sky, and earth. as if growing naturally from the wild, the ‘six direction meditation courtyard house’ creates a natural and peaceful space designed to help people slow down and get close to nature and themselves, as they go against the rapid and fierce urbanization.

name: living naturally
designers: E.MA interior design

from meditation homes to villas, ‘living naturally’ follows the concept of a taiwanese family’s three generations sharing the living space. with the means to continue the unique heritage of the residents, the modern style and japanese architectural techniques create a homestay feeling of comfort, freedom and warmth of a home.

name: romantic
designers: fuzhou guangdu building decoration engineering co., ltd.

natural light bathes the indoors of chinese design ‘romantic’ home. as classical and modern elements interact, the residential project blends together visitor area, dining room and study. in an emphasized unity yet subtle differentiation, the functional spaces convey and incorporate emotion.

for the 10th time, designboom and iF design award collaborate together to announce the 10 lucky winners of the 2021 edition, of ‘reopening perceptions’. from thousands of entries all narrowed down by the international jury panel, the above projects range from luxurious living rooms to cozy cabins. through the renowned platform, we aim to highlight inspiring and always creative topics and designs. to view the full curation of iF design award 2021 winners, visit here.

inspired by our top picks? showcasing the ‘creatiFe power of design’, registration for iF design award 2022 is now open, here.