FEATURE WOOD AWARDS 2021
The Finest in Timber Design The Wood Awards 2021 saw nineteen structures shortlisted as best in class. All those nominated were on public display at The Building Centre in London from 25 October – 3 December, as part of the exhibition World of Wood.
E
stablished in 1971, the Wood Awards has long been
installation. The independent panel of judges visit all the shortlisted
the UK’s premier competition for excellence in
projects in person, making this a uniquely rigorous competition.
wood design and aims to encourage and promote
Here is a selection of this year’s projects.
outstanding timber design, craftsmanship and
16 CHART STREET
THE BOATHOUSE
A former 1930’s furniture warehouse has been redeveloped into a
This practical family residence respects the outstanding natural beauty of
contemporary and adaptable office space that retains almost all the original
its surroundings and looks out over the Salcombe Estuary. Natural materials
structural fabric. The existing four-storey building has been extended sideways
are at the heart of the project. Geometry and materials are expressed in
and upwards using CLT panels and hardwood LVL beams. Conceived as an
different ways on different floors. Below-ground, the emphasis is on stone
open studio space, the new third-floor level has been designed to promote
and natural curves, from a curved bench and coat rail to curved doors.
collaboration featuring a flexible, column-free space with four rows of 10m long
Above-ground is straight, with timber and deliberately man-made materials
northlight windows. A vertical, lightweight CLT extension has been added to the
used. The owners’ expertise meant that the best quality wood has been
side of the building which complements the new sawtooth roof structure and
used, with timber supplied by his import company, sourced from Canada.
creates light-filled space for meetings, alongside a new stair and lift core, and
Yellow cedar tiles and cladding adorn the roof and exterior, while the
a new covered building entrance. LVL beams support the northlight windows,
upstairs floor is made from Douglas fir. The long, straight grain of the wood
while CLT panels to carry the sawtooth roof. The result is a considered and
has been deliberately exposed on all levels to show off its beauty. The typical
didactic expression of the building’s construction with expressed panel joints,
house plan has been inverted, with the main living spaces set above the
exposed lamellas, and undisguised connections, demonstrating the building’s
bedrooms. Other interesting design features include the eaves, which were
sequencing. Elsewhere in the building, new floor areas have been created using
inspired by thatched roofs, and the use of surplus roof copper throughout
a hybrid of steel and CLT, freeing up the existing structure to create open plan
the project. The large, open plan living space is flooded with light and
working areas, collaborative neighborhoods, and break out spaces.
features a glass and timber balcony above the lower-level entrance door.
Location: London Architect: Ian Chalk Architects Client: CSI Property Investments Structural engineer: Heyne Tillett Steel MEP engineer: Peter Deer & Associates
Main contractor: Conomar Building Services Joinery: Pearl Fit-out Wood supplier: B&K Structures Quantity surveyor: Exigere Species: spruce (Norway), beech (Europe)
Timber Construction Magazine
Winter 2021
Location: Devon Architect: Adams Collingwood Architects Client & main builder: Mr & Mrs T Stone Structural engineer: Paul Carpenter Associates Joinery: Rozen Furniture
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Wood supplier: Stones Marine Timber Landscape architects: Rathbone Partnership Species: Douglas fir, yellow cedar, Sitka spruce (Canada)
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