Arwel Owen recently came out top in the Gaining Added value from Timber in Europe (GATE) European Young Architect of the Year award, a competition run by Forestry Commission Wales, with his use of footpads instead of traditional foundations commended by the judges.
But after receiving the award, 26-year-old Mr Owen said that Welsh designers and builders still had a long way to go to catch up with their European counterparts when it comes to specifying timber.
“This method of construction is being used elsewhere in Europe, [where] it has strong traditions and all kinds of benefits,” he said.
“Unfortunately in Wales we still very much resort to what we know – block and mortar – rather than looking to different ways of building modern, more efficient homes.”
Mr Owen, who works with design firm Hughes Architects Ltd, added that the GATE competition allowed him to “try something really special”, with the timber house incorporating a turf roof, high levels of insulation and a rainwater collection system.
