Last year the newly-styled Wood Awards attracted an all-time high of 208 entries, representing some of the finest construction and conservation projects from across the UK.
“This is truly a national award,” said Michael Buckley, director of award organiser Turnstone Communications. “Two fine projects from Suffolk received awards, and in fact the judges travelled the length of the country to make their final inspections.”
A well-received first for the event last year was the presentation of a Gold Award for the project voted by the judges the “winner of winners”. This accolade went to the inventive and innovative Weald and Downland Gridshell in West Sussex designed by Edward Cullinan Architects.
As part of the presentation a carving of the building was made by Ray Winder who secretly visited the Gridshell for the purpose. The oak carving is now used for blind visitors to feel in order to understand the extraordinary shape and beauty of the building.
Another intriguing entry for last year’s Awards was a delightful little bridge in Gloucestershire by Richard La Trobe-Bateman. Initially he declined to enter on the grounds of never having won recognition for his work before. He now has the 2003 Wood Award for Innovation to his credit.
Shortlisted entries
Other shortlisted entries included Michael Hopkins & Partners‘ Haberdashers’ Hall in London, the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall and the David Douglas Pavilion in Perthshire representing Scottish forestry.
A publication of the shortlisted projects was circulated to 55,000 readers of architectural and construction titles, giving considerable publicity to the winning teams.
Overall, the Wood Awards 2003 were seen as a great success and a great showcase for timber in construction. This year the organisers aim to keep the impetus going.
The Wood Awards in 2004 are again sponsored by a wide group of generic sponsors, all promoting wood in different aspects. The Timber Trade Federation and Carpenters’ Company have been involved since inception, whereas the wood. for good campaign has joined forces more recently. Long-term supporters from the US, Ghana and Malaysia and the British Woodworking Federation continue their support as well as English Heritage. Other sponsors include TRADA, BRE, the Institute of Carpenters, the UK Timber Frame Association and the UK Forest Products Association. All sponsors are detailed at the awards website www.woodawards.com.
Awards will be made to the best in four categories: Private, Public Access, Conservation and Structural, with the Gold Award made to the winner of winners. The Innovation Award will recognise technical innovation regardless of category, and this year there will be an additional judges’ award for the best Small Project.
Prestigious event
The organisers and sponsors are keen to “engage the timber trade in this prestigious event” and maintain that it is in the interest of the trade to set high standards by securing entries from all known qualifying building and joinery projects.
Turnstone Communications said that getting the entries in last year was “something of a nightmare”. Despite the eventual record figures, a large number of entries arrived in a flurry in the last week!
“We would like to encourage all timber traders and manufacturers to promote the awards to relevant customers in construction, joinery and renovation well in advance of the May entry deadline,” urged Mr Buckley.
“The advice given last year by Wood Awards judge Amanda Baillieu, editor of RIBA Journal, on entrants providing high quality photos is also particularly apposite. It is believed that at least one project missed the shortlist in 2003 due to the submission of poor photos.”
So, if you are aware of a fine building or joinery project completed or renovated in the past year, the Wood Awards organisers urge you to let the owners or contractors know that they can enter the 2004 awards now.
