American Standard Design Award celebrates ‘Home Away from Home’ student designer winners from across Asia Pacific

American Standard, one of the most iconic brands in sanitary ware and part of LIXIL, celebrated the remarkable achievements of the American Standard Design Award (ASDA) 2024 Grand Prizewinner and regional finalists at a special awards ceremony and exhibition in Singapore.

The competition attracted strong interest from nearly five thousand (5,000) registrants from six countries across the Asia-Pacific (APAC). Entries were judged and advanced through national and regional competition rounds, by a panel drawn from over thirty (30) experts from the architecture, design and sanitary ware industry.

The ASDA 2024 theme of “Home Away From Home” challenged student designers to apply their knowledge and creativity to design innovative solutions for a hospitality bathroom that recreates the warm and inviting feeling of home, resonating with the American Standard brand claim of LIFE.LOVE.HOME.

Ricardo Noel Bonalos, an undergraduate design student at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines emerged as the ASDA APAC Grand Prize Winner, with his entry titled “SereniScape Retreat: Your Personal Urban Oasis”. His winning entry presented a harmonious blend of natural elements and thoughtful design, where the bathroom becomes a haven where guests can unwind, reconnect with themselves, and experience the dual warmth of a homey atmosphere and the refreshing touch of a tranquil oasis. The use of customizable cabinets that allows guests to adapt the space to their individual needs adds a unique personality to the bathroom and addresses the challenge of catering to diverse guest preferences without imposing difficulty on hotel owners.

Ricardo shared his personal journey, “This project required meticulous attention to detail and careful consideration of materials, fixtures, and furnishings. Although this process was time-consuming, it was incredibly educational. Participating in the ASDA has taught me invaluable lessons about the art of designing spaces that feel both familiar and welcoming, even within a commercial context. It has boosted my confidence and prepared me to tackle real-world projects with a more refined approach. It’s provided me with a unique platform to learn from the best minds in the field, and the opportunity to receive feedback from industry leaders and peers has been incredibly enlightening.”

Antoine Besseyre Des Horts, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, Asia commented, “The ASDA was created as a platform to nurture and recognize upcoming talent in the industry. The caliber of entries keeps impressing ASDA judges. It is rewarding to see the ASDA platform grow to over 1,000 submitted entries from across the region, focusing on the theme “Home Away From Home”. What truly defines a home is the delicate balance of design, space, and practicality.”

“When traveling away from home, we desire a space that relaxes, inspires, and rejuvenates. No matter the style, color, or decor choice, it is the sense of comfort that greets us every time we step into the room. The regional finalists from six different countries were able to convey that through their winning projects and had the opportunity to receive mentoring from the distinguished judging panel. We are pleased to congratulate all the ASDA 2024 winners and finalists, and look forward to their continued success” Antoine continued.

The ASDA 2024 regional finalists and first placed National winners are:

1. Ricardo Noel Bonalos – APAC Grand Prize Winner / Philippines National Winner from University of Santo Tomas
2. Davy Sophonn – Cambodia National Winner from Kirirom Institute of Technology
3. Luist Yansen – Indonesia National Winner from Tarumanagara University
4. Podsatorn Keela – Thailand National Winner from Khon Kaen University
5. Mai Hà Võ – Viet Nam National Winner from Danang Architecture University
6. Minh Chau Nguyen – Australia & New Zealand Winner from Deakin University

Each national winner won a cash prize of USD 2,000, and were mentored by their national ASDA judges in their advance to the APAC regional finals. The APAC Grand Prize winner was awarded a total cash prize of USD 5,000. All regional finalists were also invited to an exclusive tour of the LIXIL Experience Centre, Singapore and a curated design workshop at the LIXIL Design Centre.