Entries for Timber Design Awards closing soon

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New judges and new categories will ensure the prestigious 2018 NZ Wood-Resene Timber Design Awards are even more exciting than before, according to NZ Wood promotion manager Debbie Fergie.

Entries for this year’s event close on Monday, April 30. “Entries are already coming in, but if we don’t have yours it can’t be considered, and nor can it provide a showcase for your expertise,” Ms Fergie says.

This is New Zealand’s only timber design award which allows engineers, architects, architectural designers and builders to showcase their innovative projects using locally-sourced timber.

Entries must be of a building or structure completed between March 1, 2016 and February 28, 2018 that include a significant amount of timber, be it structural or decorative.

However, the judges recognise that wood and wood products can be used in many innovative ways, and this year the Wood and Fibre Creativity Award category has been revised and expanded.

This can include original uses of wood fibre properties, perhaps applying chemical or process innovations to form new products.

Last year, the winner of this category produced essential oil from wilding pines, for example.

This year, a new category of Multi-storey Timber Building Design has been added to reflect the growing acceptance of wood, particularly engineered wood, as a viable and cost-effective construction material.

This brings the total number of categories to 10, including the very popular Innovation of Student Design Award that was introduced last year.

Other categories are Residential Architectural Excellence, Commercial Architectural Excellence, Engineering Innovation, Excellence in Engineered Wood Products, Interior Innovation, Exterior Innovation and Infrastructure, and the NZ Specialty Timber Award.

The speed of construction that wood offers helps meet accommodation and office space demand across the country, and New Zealand is recognised as an international leader in the field, Ms Fergie says.

“Local and international companies are looking to New Zealand for timber design inspiration,” she says.

Judges this year are Pamela Bell, Prefab NZ; David Carradine, Timber Design Society; Tim Melville, New Zealand Institute of Architects; and Andrea Stocchero, Sustainable Architect, Scion.

Finalists will be announced on Monday, May 21, and will have until July 20 to prepare their final submissions.

A cash prize of $2000 will be awarded to the winner of each of the nine categories, and student winners will each receive $1000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the gala awards.

Winners will be announced at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland on Thursday, September 20.

For a full list of entry criteria, and a timeline of entry submissions and judging announcements, call Ms Fergie on 021 807 002, email [email protected], or go to
www.nzwood.co.nz/news-and-events/nz-wood-resene-timber-design-awards-2018.

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