The Wood Awards is an annual competition that celebrates the use of timber in design and architecture. It first began in 1971 as the Carpenters’ Award but was re-launched in 2003 in its current guise. Each year designs that make a real impact are recognised.
The 2017 awards ceremony was held in London on 21st November. There were winners in nine different categories. Projects included a mix of domestic, public, and commercial architecture.
The winner of the Interiors category, Coastal House, also took the Arnold Laver Gold Award for the best project overall. The family home in Dartmouth makes outstanding use of timber. For example it features oak beams and tapered verticals. Several species of wood were used including French oak, British Douglas fir, and British pine.
Rievaulx Abbey Visitor Centre and Museum won the Commercial & Leisure award. The existing structure was already timber but the project called for an upgrade that would achieve modern standards and improve facilities. A new central hall was created using beautiful Scandinavian glulam spruce. Cross laminated timber (CLT) panels were used for the roofing. The new hall is an architectural feat that celebrates the arches and columns of the abbey.
Maggie’s Oldham took the prize for Education & Public. Incredibly four beautiful types of American timber have been used in the project; Tulipwood, White Oak, Black Walnut, and Ash. The building is the first to be built from highly sustainable tulipwood CLT. The entire property floats above a garden and a tree grows up through the centre. The natural beauty of the timbers is celebrated, making the project extra special.
The Bespoke winner was one of the most interesting because it showed how it is possible to use timber and get incredible texturing. The Time and Texture Installation by Eleanor Lakelin was part of a larger exhibition at Forde Abbey. Four British timbers were uses; Cedar, Oak, Sycamore and Wellingtonia.
The awards show how diverse and wonderful timber is. Architects and designers looking for inspiration prior to material selection should have a look at the winners and see what can be achieved with these fantastic woods.
If you are considering domestic, public, or commercial architecture and want to use timber the Coffey Architects team can help you. Take a look at some of our projects on our website and you’ll see how we can use it to stunning effect.