Matrix Design's Hefei Since 1872 wins Gold at A' Design Award

Matrix Design's Hefei Since 1872 has won Gold in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category at the A' Design Award in Italy. The residential club project blends Hefei heritage, sustainable materials and digital fabrication, highlighting how cultural storytelling is shaping modern interior design.

Why it matters: - The Gold A' Design Award gives Matrix Design a high-profile validation for a residential club interior that links local heritage with modern functionality. - The win signals continued market interest in design that combines cultural identity, sustainable materials and craft-led production. - The project offers a reference point for developers and designers working on residential spaces that need both emotional appeal and practical performance.

What happened: - The A' Design Award named Hefei Since 1872, a club interior by Matrix Design, a Gold winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. - The project was recognized in Como, Italy, on September 11, 2026. - The award honors a design that integrates cultural symbolism, sustainable materials and refined craftsmanship across public and private areas. - The dedicated project page is available on the A' Design Award website.

The details: - Hefei Since 1872 draws on the cultural history of Hefei and the legacy of the Huai Army. - A petal motif tied to the Seal Series branding runs through the interior as a visual narrative. - The design includes petal-inspired stone mosaics, parametric domes, artisanal metalwork and wave-textured travertine surfaces. - The interior uses sculpted travertine cladding, precision-forged bronze details, hand-textured signage and CNC-cut domes. - Natural tones, soft lighting and curated textures shape the atmosphere throughout the space. - The build combined CNC templating, laser-calibrated installation, hand-hammered metalwork, seamless GFRG dome casting and mosaic stone patterning. - Matrix Design was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. - Matrix Design also has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, Wuhan and Hong Kong. - Matrix Design Co., Ltd. completed its initial public offering in 2022 under stock code 301365 and became the 400th listed company in Shenzhen. - Matrix Design works across office, residential real estate, commercial retail, cultural and educational facilities, healthcare and senior living, and hospitality. - Interior Design magazine ranked Matrix Design 17th globally overall in 2022 and No. 1 worldwide in residential design. - The Gold A' Design Award recognizes designs that show innovation and meaningful impact on their intended audience. - Evaluation criteria in the category include space use, materials, layout, color, lighting, sustainability, cultural relevance, ergonomics, consistency, detail, accessibility, technology, safety, project management and adaptability.

Between the lines: - The award reflects how residential design is increasingly judged on cultural authenticity as much as visual polish. - The project also shows how digital fabrication and handcraft can be paired instead of treated as competing methods. - Matrix Design is positioning heritage-informed interiors as part of a broader strategy in both residential and public design. - The recognition may strengthen the studio's case for future projects that emphasize sustainability, symbolism and long-term usability.

What's next: - Interested readers can review the project details, materials and production methods on the award page. - The A' Design Award says the recognition is meant to encourage further innovation and advance the interior design field. - Matrix Design is likely to continue pursuing projects that merge urban heritage, modern form and cross-disciplinary craft.

The bottom line: - Hefei Since 1872 is now a Gold-winning example of how cultural storytelling, material discipline and modern fabrication can coexist in residential club design.