Generations of carpenters have used their skills to create national treasures, Sir Michael Latham, chairman of the Construction Industry Training Board, told the audience at The Wood Awards last week.
Describing carpentry as “the original heritage” profession, Sir Michael said carpenters had a dual role of conservation of the old and delivery of the new.
This was illustrated by the winner of the prestigious Gold Award – a contemporary conversion of Pinions Barn in Northamptonshire, designed by Simon Conder Associates, in the Private category. The judges were unanimous in their decision, describing the project as “a very high quality, very fashionable design conversion extremely well carried through”. Last year, Simon Conder Associates was highly commended for the Black Rubber Beach House in Dungeness.
In keeping with awards made in 2003 and 2004, the Gold trophy was a replica of the project’s most striking image – an oak circular staircase spanning the double-height of the barn.
New to The Wood Awards this year was the Best Use of British Timber, awarded to the winner of the Structural category, Pilton Barn. Making the award to the post-fire restoration designed by Caroe & Partners and completed by Peter McCurdy, of Globe Theatre fame, the judges said: “This is not just a very dramatic and convincing timber structure historically,
it is extremely interesting and also it is a very convincing and effective use of English timber.”
Other winners were the Sage Gateshead by Norman Foster, in the Commercial and Public Access category, and Christ Church, Spitalfields in the Conservation/Restoration category.
At the judges’ discretion, a Small Project Award was given to the New Summerhouse of Sybil and David Caines, described by the judges as “an exemplar of high quality design”.
Awards organiser Michael Buckley said that 2005 was another year of record entries and a spectacular quality of work. “Whether the building is a cultural centre of national importance by a leading architect-ural practice or simply a converted country home, it is the sheer quality of workmanship that has shone through in all the four main winning projects,” said Mr Buckley.
