?This year the annual competition for the use of timber in construction, interiors and furniture attracted an entry total of 362, something the organisers put down to “proactive public relations and advertising” and the growing prestige of the competition.
A change in category classifications may also have boosted entries. “Small Project” has for the first time been separated from the “Private” building category.
“The aim is to give smaller projects the recognition they deserve,” said Lucy Kamall for the Wood Awards.
“The entries include Anne Boleyn’s gateway at Hampton Court Palace and the innovative American red oak Timber Wave that featured at the last London Design Festival.”
She added that the furniture category has also been divided into two, “Bespoke” and “Private Made”, while Conservation/ Restoration” has become “Repair and Adaptive Reuse” to cover repurposing of existing buildings.
Judge chairman, architect Michael Morrison, described the entries as “excellent”. “We knew 2012 would be interesting and it has not disappointed,” he said.
The Wood Awards shortlist will be showcased at Timber Expo (see pp16-17) and the winners will be announced at the presentations on November 27 at Carpenters’ Hall in London. The competition’s lead sponsors are the American Hardwood Export Council, Canada Wood, Carpenters’ Company, and Wood for Good.
