Prize draw

For the Wood Awards judges, the summer marks a period of travelling the length and breadth of the country in search of projects worthy of the UK’s top timber prize.

This year they have a shortlist of 34 projects to mull over, whittled down from nearly 200 entries. The shortlist illustrates the diverse applications for timber, from the small, such as the single mirror frame by furniture designer Georgy Mkrtichian, to the large – the soaring spruce lattice roof of the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry to the quirky, such as Freya’s Cabin, a small shelter made from 1,600 pieces of CNC-cut plywood which overlooks Kielder Water.

There is also the Sliding House, a home of three sections, which can be transformed by a 20-ton mobile roof/ wall enclosure; Falmouth School, built to a brief from a group of 13 year olds, who also acted as the client; and El Ray, a timber-framed, timber-clad house by former Gold Award winner Simon Conder, which incorporates a 19th century railway carriage in the living space.

Good design

Judges’ chairman Giles Downes said it was encouraging to see that good design was alive and well, despite the current difficult financial climate.

He added that the Wood Awards played a vital role in the promotion of timber. “The event’s ability to highlight the advantages of using wood, across a wide range of applications, is increasingly relevant.”

This year the furniture category has four sub-categories, and the number of entries has more than doubled last year’s. “The variety of design styles is wonderful and I am anticipating an enjoyable but difficult task,” said furniture category judge Luke Hughes.

The Wood Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony at Carpenters’ Hall on October 14.

Sponsors

Sponsors of the Wood Awards include The American Hardwood Export Council, Carpenters’ Company, ConFor, English Heritage, Forestry Commission, Furniture Makers’ Company, Institute of Carpenters, Malaysian Timber Council, TRADA, Rooff Ltd, and Daniel Watney Chartered Surveyors.

For the full shortlist, see the July 11/18 issue of TTJ.