Contract is pleased to publish the winners of the first annual International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Best Interiors of Latin America Competition. Seven projects were named Best of Category and an additional 13 projects received Honorable Mentions from more than 100 projects from Mexico and Central and South America. The winners were recognized—and a Best of Competition project was named—at an awards event with IIDA board members, IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA, and Contract Editor in Chief John Czarnecki, Assoc. AIA, on December 10 in Miami.

The Best of Competition distinction was awarded to Fazenda Boa Vista/Hotel Fasano in Porto Feliz, Brazil, designed by Islay Weinfeld. To see images of  Fazenda Boa Vista/Hotel Fasano, the Best of Category winners, and projects that received an Honorable Mention, view the attached slide presentation.

IIDA presented this design competition with Bang & Olufsen, internationally recognized for its exceptional quality and award-winning product designs. The panel of judges were Diego Burdi, creative partner at BURDIFILEK, Toronto; Nestor Santa-Cruz, IIDA, senior associate and design director at Gensler, Washington, D.C.; and Jaime Velez, FIIDA, director of interior design at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in Chicago.

“The outstanding caliber of submissions to the IIDA Latin America competition stands as a testament to the fact that high design is thriving in that region of the world. This year’s entries were highly creative, culturally appropriate, and displayed a considerable degree of innovation,” says Velez, speaking on behalf of the panel of judges.

“In recent years we’ve seen an increase in projects embodying originality and design excellence from the Latin American region, which is why we wanted to place a greater focus on those projects through this competition,” says Durst.

“We know Latin American culture is rich with exceptional design and the projects submitted exemplified the diversity of design vernacular. The competition judges were impressed with the notable degree of innovation, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate the creative talent in this region.”