This Thursday, 4th of December, the architecture and design community will gather at Winnings Redfern for the Habitus House of the Year 2025 Awards Night. The countdown is officially on for what promises to be a significant event in the Australian design calendar. This year’s program is proudly supported by Winnings as Major Partner, with Rogerseller and Billi joining as Supporting Partners as well as a number of Design Hunter prize partners. Before the celebrations begin, the organizers have laid out the path for the upcoming ceremony, detailing the shortlist, the jury, and the categories that will determine the year’s standout residential design.
The Selection Process
Over the past month, the complete shortlist of 26 homes was revealed across four distinct drops. These entries form a snapshot of residential architecture across Australia, Aotearoa / New Zealand, India, Japan, and Indonesia. The range is quite expansive, covering everything from coastal retreats and city terraces to experimental structures that test the limits of material and site. Notable projects included in the lineup include the Burnt Earth Beach House by Wardle, which is listed as a 2024 Joint Winner, and the Balmain East House by Studio Johnston. Other nominees include Lava Flow by Pac Studio, Scout by Strutt Studios, she sells sea shells by multiplicity, Soft Serve by MuseLAB, and Ima by STUDIOLIVE. To revisit each announcement, readers can view the specific drops for Shortlist 1, Shortlist 2, Shortlist 3, and the final reveal.
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The Jury
This year’s jury panel is composed of 16 leading architects, designers, thinkers, and editors. Their collective expertise spans multiple disciplines, geographies, and design philosophies. The group includes Albert Mo, Ali Whelan, Amelia Borg, Ben Peake, Bradley Kerr, Brahman Perera, Gillian Serisier, Jean Graham, Lachlan Seegers, Mardi Doherty, Mark Austin, Phillip Withers, Sally Knibbs, Timothy Alouani-Roby, and Tim Jackson. Ahead of the actual awards night, the jury will come together for a full day of discussion and deliberation. Their task is to select the project that best embodies the ambition and spirit of Habitus House of the Year. It is a bit unusual for a residential award to require such a rigorous, full-day consensus process, but it suggests a high standard for the winner.
The inclusion of India, Japan, and Indonesia alongside Australia and New Zealand marks a significant departure from the Eurocentric focus of many traditional architecture awards that have long dominated the industry conversation. By prioritizing tropical, coastal, and vernacular designs from these regions, the organizers are arguably correcting a historical imbalance in global design recognition, ensuring the award reflects the true diversity of modern living around the Pacific Rim.
Related: Gill and Gibney Win House of the Year
Awards and Voting
On the night, four specific awards will be presented. These include the Winnings x Habitus House of the Year 2025, the Winnings Award for Emerging Talent, the Editor’s Choice Award, and the People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice voting process opened on 15th October, and the response from readers across the region has been described as extraordinary. This voting mechanism allows the wider public to participate in the selection process, contrasting with the professional judgment of the jury panel.
