Architect of the Year

CATEGORY SPONSOR

ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR

Category: Open to any size of practice. This award will celebrate a professional architect or architectural technologist that has specified timber and used it as a defining feature within a completed building in the UK. Emphasis will be given to the technical and creative reasons why timber was specified and how this was communicated within the project team. Particular note will be given to the use of leading edge building techniques and originality to construct inspirational examples for future building design, within a framework of cost, deliverability and timescale. Sponsor: At Stora Enso, we want to help build a great future with wood. We are your go-to source of a wide range of quality wood products that improve the performance, safety and sustainability of your buildings. Around the world, architects, builders and contractors turn to Stora Enso as a leader in sustainability and an innovation partner they can rely on for their building projects. Whether you’re looking for the simple beauty of classic sawn wood or the predictable precision of engineered wood, we’ve got what you need.

Judge Testimonial

“Exemplar building in this iconic category.”

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Let's talk about the wood house effect

Cities are growing, and so are trees. With wood as a construction material, we can bring the forest to the city by building higher, lighter and stronger than ever before. By 2060, global housing needs to double, and emissions need to go down. When using wood as a renewable material that keeps growing back, a truly sustainable future of building is possible. We call this the wood house effect.

storaenso.com/WoodHouseEffect

ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

GRESFORD ARCHITECTS: COPELAND ROAD

Copeland Road is an extension of a Victorian terraced house, and a celebration of the versatility of CLT and timber construction. Gresford Architects have exploited the flexibility and strength of CLT to extraordinary effect: for instance soaring double height spaces that flood the interiors with natural light, and a lively side extension to give visual interest while respecting neighbouring properties. Exposed timber surfaces expressed structural elements, and strong contrasts with other materials including cast concrete create airy and elegant interiors that are uplifting, peaceful and intriguing.

HEWITT STUDIOS: THE BRUNEL CENTRE

Social mobility is at the core of SGS College’s mission. Students must feel inspired to stay in education, through campuses that feel like vibrant, working environments. The Brunel Centre was conceived as a demonstration of these principles. Crosslaminated timber sets a calming tone throughout the interior, its tactile surfaces ever-present in walls, soffits, stairs and beams. Externally, photovoltaic brise soleil pace along the southern elevation. These sculptural ‘wings’ showcase the college’s commitment to green energy, while nodding to the area’s world-leading aviation heritage.

MACCREANOR LAVINGTON ARCHITECTS: THE NEW REFECTORY, IBSTOCK PLACE

The new refectory at Ibstock Place, an independent, co-educational day-school for 1,200 pupils, is the result of a 2016 invited design competition. The school were enthralled by our vision for a reimagined grand timber hall with a lofty structure that would provide an uplifting space for the celebration of communal school life. The choice of a glued and cross laminated timber roof structure was instrumental in meeting the school’s aspiration to erect a celebratory and warm, yet functional and efficient space at the heart of the campus whilst keeping interference with its operations to a minimum.

Mæ: SANDS END ARTS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE

Sands End Arts and Community centre is a new community space in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The centre consists of a completely restored Edwardian Park keeper’s lodge surrounded by a newly built cluster of pavilions. The building is constructed using large-scale whitewood spruce cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and glue-laminated beams. The timber use in the build is PEFC and EPD Cradle to grave certified. The centre’s façade is from a pale nougat brick made using 70% post processed ceramic waste.

MEB DESIGN: GUEST COTTAGES AT SLG CONVENT

The three Guest Cottages at SLG Convent are a series of beautiful timber cabins utilising CLT structural technology as well as prefabricated composite en-suite bathroom pods. Designed to “Passivhaus Principles” with super insulation and airtightness, the CLT structure has been an integral part of this approach. Set in the extensive grounds of the historic Convent, the Guest Cottages are designed to create a place of peace and tranquillity in high quality, self-contained accommodation.