WOOD AWARDS
WOOD AWARDS 2020 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The winners of the annual Wood Awards have been announced . The judges have selected six structures and three products that represent the best of British architecture and product design in wood . Established in 1971 , the Wood Awards is the UK ’ s premier competition for excellence in wood design . The competition is free to enter and aims to encourage and promote outstanding timber design , craftsmanship and installation .
The Wood Awards is one of the few design competitions to go ahead despite COVID-19 . The independent panel of judges always visits all the shortlisted projects in person , making this a uniquely rigorous competition . This year , the usual judging process had to be adapted , but the competition persevered , and the judges still managed to see each project . to resist standardised or default positions within housing design , and how to minimise the materials , embodied carbon and cost . CLT was used for the superstructure and all the internal walls and staircases . The CLT is exposed throughout , creating large , light-filled spaces and a comforting atmosphere . These volumes are detailed with white-washed ash floors . Delicate spruce strips form dropped ceilings in the hallways and bathrooms . Kitchens cabinets are made from CNC grooved three-layer spruce ply boards and the worktops are made from recycled paper . The limited palette of natural materials helps to minimise visual clutter .
COMMERCIAL & LEISURE
GOLD AWARD & PRIVATE WINNER
The judges chose The Rye Apartments as this year ’ s Gold Award and Private category winner . The Gold Award is given to the winner of winners . Judge Jim Greaves comments , “ Tikari Works have taken a gamble and done something very unusual and it ’ s paid off , the apartments are very popular .”
Location : London Architect : Tikari Works Structural engineer : Webb Yates Wood supplier : Stora Enso CLT subcontractor : Eurban 3-layer board : Binderholz Species : Austrian spruce © JackHobhouse
This development of ten sustainable apartments sits on a prominent corner site . A mix of one , two , and three-bedroom units are set in two blocks that respond independently to the changing scale across the site . The user ’ s quality of life is at the heart of the design . The project was driven by two key considerations ; how
The Commercial & Leisure winner is Frindsbury Manor Barn . The judges admired the attention to detail and scale of the conservation project .
Location : Rochester Architect & client : The Heritage Design & Development Team Ltd Structural engineer : The Morton Partnership Main contractor , joinery & wood supplier : Dolmen Conservation Ltd Species : British oak
This Grade 1 listed medieval barn , originally built in 1403 , was damaged by fire in 2003 . At 210 feet long it is the longest barn in the UK . A third of the barn was re-built in locally sourced green oak . Large quantities of curved timber were selected for braces and tie beams . In total , 1400 f3 of oak was used . Extensive stone repairs were also needed . 95,000 Kent peg tiles were used to re-tile the old and new sections of the barn . The project was based on the fundamental principles of conservation : ‘ maintain as much of the historic fabric as possible whist ensuring the building has a viable future use ’. The barn and its surrounding areas are steeped in history and it remains fundamental to the local community .
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