Winner at the World Architecture Festival
FRACTAL CHAPEL: World Interior of the Year 2025
World Interior of the Year 2025
On November 14, 2025, INNOCAD architecture’s project, the FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz, was awarded "World Interior of the Year 2025" at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025, which took place in Miami, Florida, USA. The FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz had previously received the award in the category "WAF Interiors: Public Buildings" and was subsequently pre-selected – together with all other winners of the WAF interior categories – by the esteemed jury for the final stage of the competition, where it competed for the World Interior of the Year 2025, judged by a Super Jury.
Biophilic design strategies
The chapel, a retreat for patients, relatives and staff, combines biophilic design, natural light, natural materials and fractal patterns, which have been proven to reduce stress and create a calming atmosphere. The fractal patterns enveloping the chapel were developed as part of a transdisciplinary collaboration between the product design studio 13&9 Design and Prof. Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon and Fractals Research. The altar in the centre of the room was created by artist Manfred Erjautz from the upturned rootstock of a walnut tree.
Winner by Super Jury
After a transparent and dialogue-driven evaluation, the FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz was selected as the World Interior of the Year 2025 – the festival’s highest interior design accolade.
The overall winners of 2025 were announced during the festival’s gala evening at the Miami Beach Convention Center, where Nigel Coates, Director of the World Festival of Interiors, presented the award to architect Martin Lesjak and Dr. med. univ. Anastasija Lesjak in front of the global architecture and design community.
The official Super Jury statement described the project as "a welcome opportunity for expansive contemplation in the busy and often stressful world of a hospital." Judges enjoyed the design’s calm control, effective use of simple perforated surfaces and its sophisticated play of light.
Additional prestigious international prizes
Beyond this exceptional honor, the internationally active architecture firm INNOCAD architecture was recently awarded two additional prestigious international prizes: the Quality Choice Prize 2025 from the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) in Stockholm and the coveted "Best of Competition" award from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) at the 51st Annual Interior Design Competition in Chicago.
