King's crown

The judges of the Wood Awards said the standard of entries in the competition has risen year on year, and 2009 has continued the trend. Honing the nearly 200 projects down to an initial shortlist of 34 and then choosing the winners proved a tougher job than ever. But they finally made their decisions and the results were revealed at Carpenters’ Hall in London on Wednesday.

The coveted Gold Award went to London’s Kings Place Concert Hall, which also picked up the Commercial and Public Access Award. According to the judges, the 420-capacity building, a collaboration between architect Dixon Jones Ltd and Arup Acoustics, blends “state-of-the-art acoustics” with an “elegant interior”. “The concert hall amplifies a sense of intimacy, yet is large enough to accommodate a small orchestra and is regularly used for live radio broadcasts,” they said. Overall, they concluded, it is a “truly outstanding project; a tour de force of precision joinery, balancing acoustic performance with the pure rational geometry sought by the architect”.

Deal Pier Café & Bar

Structural engineer Price and Myers walked away with the Structural Award for Deal Pier Café & Bar. Commissioned by Dover District Council, the brief was to replace the existing badly weather-beaten building. Challenged with the task of finding a material suited to the harsh, salty conditions, the architects opted for iroko as the primary fabric due to its highly durable nature. Apart from the technicalities of the project, the look of the Pier Café also proved a hit with the judges. “Perched on the end of the pier, the rhythmic, repetitive design of this structure creates in itself a complete stunning building with razor sharp detailing,” they said.

The Private category was won by a refurbished Victorian House in West Dulwich. Having been poorly converted in the 1960s, 14 Carson Road was gutted before reconstruction could commence, leaving Knox Bhavan Architects with a blank canvas. This allowed them to create “a beautifully detailed suburban family home using a variety of timbers and contractors”.

The winner of the Conservation/Restoration category was The Merchant’s House in Shepton Mallet, which the judges described as “a labour of love, undertaken to rescue a house and restore it to its former glory”. Its owner, they added, developed a true architectural relationship with the building and demonstrated “determination and patience”. They also praised the project for the “quality and attention to detail achieved throughout”.

Furniture winner

The overall winner in the Furniture category was Gloster Furniture Ltd’s Elan Outdoor Furniture, which also triumphed in the Exterior Furniture sub-category. The beautiful outdoor chairs and tables were especially commended for their “intriguing designs and exceptional quality of construction”.

Other Wood Awards winners were Oak Bridge by McMorran & Gatehouse Architects for the Best Use of British Timber; Hoddinott Hall by Capita Architecture for Best Use of Panel Products; Falmouth School in Cornwall for Offsite Construction; and West Mayfield by Oliver Chapman Architects Ltd for Best Small Project.

For more on the Wood Awards, including all the sponsors, visit www.woodawards.com.