Warsaw, 18 September 2026 — The European Council of Interior Architects (ECIA) is proud to announce the winners and finalists of the ECIA Interior Award 2026, celebrating outstanding projects in European interior architecture and design. The second edition of the ECIA Interior Award received an outstanding number of submissions from across Europe, demonstrating the diversity, creativity and quality of contemporary interior architecture within the ECIA network.
This year's award focused on the theme “Responsible Design Within Space”, recognising projects that go beyond technical or regulatory requirements to address responsible design as a holistic, spatial, social, environmental and cultural approach. The award considers how interior architecture can create environments that encourage trust, comfort, inclusion, resilience, adaptability, and wellbeing.
The 2026 edition was divided into two categories: Residential and Commercial. A selection committee, consisting of representatives of the ECIA national organisations was responsible for curating the shortlists for the professional jury. Their independent and careful evaluations played a vital role in identifying the best projects. Residential Category The Residential Category recognised three projects for their distinctive approaches to contemporary living environments.
The finalists were: Urban Retreat – Micro-Architecture within a Historic Heritage Nadia Stanke, Stanke Interior Design, member of bdia (Germany). Continuity. The Spirit of Place by Roland Stańczyk, Roland Stańczyk Studio, member of SAW (Poland). The ECIA Interior Award 2026 Residential Winner was: CHROMATIC CHAMBERS Designed by Florian Sammer, ASAP ZT Pitro Sammer, member of BÖIA (Austria). Chromatic Chambers is a colourful residential project characterised by colour, energy and a strong spatial identity. Different colours are used to define and distinguish the individual spaces, creating a clear relationship between colour, atmosphere and function. The project demonstrates how a carefully considered interior can use colour not simply as a decorative element, but as a spatial tool that contributes to the experience and identity of the home. Commercial CategoryCommercial Category The Commercial Category brought together three projects demonstrating different approaches to contemporary commercial interior architecture. The finalists were: OSA / HAVENS LIVING BERLIN Sabine Kumrey, brandherm+krumrey interior architecture., member of bdia (Germany) K&H BANK BRANCH, OKTOGON Designed Linda Erdélyi and Virág Gáspár, Lab5, Budapest. Members of MEK (Hungary) The ECIA Interior Award 2026 Commercial Winner was: MATERIATEK Designed by Mauro Brigham, NCBHAM, Brussels. Member of AINB (Belgium). MATERIATEK stood out for its exceptional approach to interior architecture, combining creativity with a strong spatial concept and a high level of design quality. The project demonstrates the potential of interior architecture to create distinctive environments through the considered relationship between space, materiality and experience.
Special Recognition: Responsible Design Within Space In addition to the two category awards, the ECIA Interior Award 2026 introduced a special recognition connected directly to this year's central theme, Responsible Design Within Space. The special recognition was awarded to MATERIATEK, by Mauro Brigham, NCBHAM for its approach to responsible design. The project demonstrates how responsibility can be embedded within the design of space, reinforcing the central idea of this year's award: that responsible interior architecture can be expressed through the quality of the spatial experience, the relationship between people and their environment, and the way design responds to contemporary challenges. A European celebration of interior architecture The award ceremony took place in Warsaw on 18 September 2026, as part of the ECIA General Assembly, bringing together interior architects, designers and representatives of professional organisations from across Europe. The ceremony celebrated not only the winning projects, but also the work of all the professionals who participated in the 2026 edition and contributed to demonstrating the diversity and relevance of European Interior Architecture.
ECIA would like to congratulate all the shortlisted projects, finalists and winners, and thank every participant for contributing to the second edition of the ECIA Interior Award. About the ECIA Interior Award The ECIA Interior Award is a non-profit competition exclusively for Interior Architects and Designers who are members of ECIA member organisations. Its objective is to identify and disseminate good practices that demonstrate the relevance of the profession in contemporary challenges within the built environment. The 2026 edition focused on Responsible Design Within Space. Submitted projects were evaluated through the Davos Quality System, considering criteria including governance, functionality, environment, economy, diversity, context, sense of place and beauty, together with the additional 2026 focus on responsible design.
The competition is open to members of the ECIA effective, observer and institutional members who are fully qualified interior architect / designer. Realised projects across interior typologies, divided into Residential and Commercial categories, with products and movable furniture excluded. The ECIA Interior Award is a tribute to excellence in European interior architecture and design and contributes to ECIA's objective of promoting high-quality interior architecture and strengthening recognition of the profession across Europe.