Choosing the recipient of the Wood Awards top prize is usually a difficult decision but this year the decision almost made itself.
After winning the Structural, and Commercial & Public Access categories, the Savill Building in Windsor Great Park, which the judges described as “superb” and “most impressive as a public building and as a roof structure”, was the obvious choice for the prestigious Gold Award.
The ‘floating’ gridshell, designed by Glenn Howells Architects, uses FSC-certified European larch and English oak to form a structure four times the size of the Weald & Downland Gridshell. The project again brought together structural engineers Buro Happold and the Green Oak Carpentry Company which worked on the Downland building.
The Gold trophy, presented by deputy speaker of the House of Commons Sir Michael Lord – the guest speaker at the October 18 ceremony at the Carpenters’ Hall – was a replica of the project’s leaf-shaped roof, handcrafted by sculptor Ray Winder.
Hopkins Architects’ Pavilion and Visitor Centre at Alnwick Garden, Northumberland, which also features locally-sourced, FSC-certified larch, was highly commended in the Structural category, and again in the Commercial & Public Access category for Broughton Hall Pavilion in Skipton.
The winner of the Private category was Knox Bhavan’s Holly Barn in Norfolk, which the judges praised for its high standard and excellent detailing. The extension to Wrap House, designed by Alison Brooks Architects, was highly commended.
The “exceptional craftsmanship” in the repair and reshingling of the tower and spire won St Mary & All Saints Church in Dunsfold the Conservation/ Restoration prize, while Biddulph Old Hall in Staffordshire was highly commended.
New category
The Furniture prize, new this year, was awarded to Katie Walker’s “clever and graceful” Ribbon Rocking Chair, with the highly commended accolade going to Paul Gower’s Ellipse Dining Table. Citations of excellence went to Phil Koomen for his Collectors’ Cabinets and Andrew Varah for his Lotus Table.
In the special awards, the “ingenious” suspended mezzanine in Finnish birch-faced plywood won Westarchitecture the Small Project title, while the “exquisitely performed” Kenilworth Castle Admissions Building was highly commended.
Also new this year was the Offsite category which was won by Building Design Partnership’s Roche head office in Welwyn Garden City. This project and Katie Walker’s chair were also recognised in the special Innovation category. Crest Nicholson was given a special citation for its SIXTYK Consortium housing.
The Best Use of British Timber was awarded to the Green Oak Carpentry Company for “consistent high quality work” in British wood, seen in projects such as the Weald & Downland Gridshell, Chithurst Buddhist Monastery and the Savill Building.
Michael Buckley described the 2006 awards as “another year of record entries and spectacular quality”, with 33 projects shortlisted from 206 entries.
The Wood Awards is supported by 22 sponsors, led by The American Hardwood Export Council, the Carpenters’ Company, the Forestry Commission and Wood for Good.
