If architecture is considered the skeleton of a building, then interior design is the soul, where people feel the rhythm of life, culture and the spirit of the times. Therefore, this award maintains a separate category for interior design, not only as a technical recognition but also as an affirmation of the profession's position in the overall architectural creation.

There are 27 works competing in the interior architecture category at the 2024-2025 National Architecture Awards. These are excellent works that have won many other domestic and international interior awards. The jury, with the participation of leading domestic and international experts, has recognized many new trends. The organizing committee awarded 5 works (1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze). The works not only demonstrate excellent techniques but also clearly reveal the Vietnamese spirit in the choice of materials, in the rhythm of space and in the harmony between nature and people. It can be said that in the two years 2024-2025, the field of Vietnamese interior design shows maturity in creative thinking and integration capacity.

Grand Mercure Hanoi Hotel won the gold prize for interior design at the National Architecture Awards 2024-2025. Photo: DINH HANG

The only gold prize belongs to Grand Mercure Hanoi Hotel (architects Le Truong, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Tran Ngoc Anh and colleagues) - a design that is evaluated by experts as bringing a fresh perspective to the Vietnamese interior industry. Not following the path of luxury or showing off materials, the group of authors chose to tell stories through the language of symbols, of rice plants and grains, familiar images of rice civilization are transformed into evocative aesthetic materials.

From the lobby, guest rooms to interior details, every element is oriented towards the harmony between nature, culture and emotions, evoking the Indochinese spirit in a modern look. The project shows that Vietnamese interiors can completely reach philosophical depth and identity without relying on foreign styles. More importantly, it opens a new approach when interior design is not only the art of arranging materials but also a journey to restore memories and convey the spirit of Vietnamese culture in a contemporary space.

Green interior design was also honored, typically the bronze award for the interior design of Pizza 4P's restaurant at Lotte Tay Ho shopping center in Hanoi by ODDO Architectural Office. Scraps collected from other restaurants in the Pizza 4P's system, through the creative hands of craftsmen, were transformed into unique walls, floors, partitions and curtains. The project was successful in combining Vietnamese handicrafts with the sophistication of Western cuisine and modern architecture.

Grand Mercure Hanoi Hotel won the gold prize for interior design at the National Architecture Awards 2024-2025. Photo: DINH HANG

Architect Nguyen Duc Trung (ODDO Architectural Office) said: “The project makes the most of local materials such as wood, bamboo, reed, and do paper, contributing to preserving and honoring the long-standing cultural values ​​of Vietnamese crafts. To carry out this project, we had the opportunity to collaborate with visual artists. They created a decorative ceiling light system specifically for the restaurant from recycled plastic bags and traditional do paper.”

Through each National Architecture Award 2024-2025, we can see a subtle shift in the perspective of interior designers. If in the past, many works tended to imitate foreign styles, in recent years, the trend of returning to Vietnamese materials, with traditional spatial structures interpreted in modern language has become increasingly clear. The thinking about Vietnamese interior space is shifting from ostentation to evoking a sense of balance, tranquility and the ability to bring sustainable solutions. The National Architecture Award, therefore, becomes a fulcrum for interior designers, especially young people, to be more confident in their creative journey. Each honored work is a testament that the Vietnamese interior design profession is gradually shaping its own language - a language of restraint, depth and humanity./.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/ton-vinh-ve-dep-khong-gian-song-viet-nam-1014827