The Best Use of Timber Awards exhibition showcased the winner and shortlisted entries to the annual RIAS Awards scheme, which combined with Forestry Commission Scotland and Wood for Good to sponsor this award. The Award is aimed at encouraging innovative and creative use of timber in new buildings in Scotland. The exhibition was displayed in The Lighthouse from February to June 2015.
The award seeks to stimulate greater appreciation of home grown timber and its potential for use in construction, with added consideration given to thoughtful and appropriate use of different species. Technical competence is of course paramount and the design and detail of how the timber is used was as much a part of the assessment criteria as imagination and overall architectural excellence. There is no restriction on building type or scale of project – from small to large and from domestic to commercial, the challenge is to show how suited the use of timber is to the development of new architecture in Scotland. This year the exhibition also included the winners of the “Best use of Timber Awards” in the RIAS chapters.
Andy Leitch, the Forestry Commission’s Timber Development Adviser, said;
We really wanted to make more people aware of the fantastic timber resource we have in this country and to encourage architects to give some thought both to its potential as a design and construction material.
We grow and can source a great variety of species, each of which has its own unique properties and appearance. Scottish timber is incredibly versatile and to reflect that we didn’t want to place any restrictions on the type or scale of projects submitted.From small to large, from domestic to commercial, timber is ideally suited to the development of new architecture in Scotland.
The judging panel for the 2014 Awards included Marjorie Appleton FRIAS, Doug Read PPRIAS, Liz Davidson OBE Hon FRIAS, Craig White RIBA and George Oldham RIAS RIBA, representing the Royal Institute of British Architects.
The winner and shortlisted entries were:
Winner
| The Inn at John O’ Groats by GLM | |
|---|---|
| Location | John O’ Groats, Caithness |
| Date Completed | September 2013 |
| Building Type | Hotel |
| Client | Natural Retreats |
| Contract value | £2.5 million |
| Main Contractor | GLM |
| Timber Supplier | Timber Cladding – Russwood, Timber Kit – Norscot |
| Image Credit | Pip Rustage |
The Wood for Good award winning project is an exemplar of how wood can be used from whole building structural solutions, prefabrication, cladding to elegant finishes. The use of local skills, labour and materials is testament to how a wood first approach is sustainable, innovative and supports local economies. The developer, designer, contractor and operator are all to be congratulated.
Craig White, Wood for Good
Shortlisted Projects
| Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation by Malcolm Fraser Architects | |
|---|---|
| Location | Edinburgh |
| Date Completed | September 2013 |
| Building Type | Academic |
| Client | University of Edinburgh |
| Contract value | £6.1 Million |
| Main Contractor | Graham Construction |
| Timber Supplier | Metsäwood |
| Image Credit | Dave Morris |
| House at Camusdarrach Sands by Raw Architecture Workshop | |
|---|---|
| Location | Morar, Inverness-shire |
| Date Completed | November 2013 |
| Building Type | Private House |
| Client | Mr and Mrs Lemons |
| Main Contractor | Knoydart Construction |
| Timber Supplier | External Cedar Cladding – Knoydart Construction, Internal finishes – Travis Perkins |
| Image Credit | David Barbour |
| House No. 7 by Denizen Works | |
|---|---|
| Location | Isle of Tiree |
| Date Completed | August 2013 |
| Building Type | Private House |
| Client | Mrs L Kerr |
| Main Contractor | John MacKinnon Builders |
| Timber Supplier | Glu-lam – Donaldson’s Timber, Markinch, remaining timber from Jewsons |
| Image Credit | David Barbour |
Winners in the RIAS Chapters
- Dundee Institute of Architects – 3 Old Orchard, Garry Adam Architect
- Edinburgh Architectural Association – Helix Cafe Pavilion, Keppie
- Glasgow Institute of Architects, Noust Boathouse, Tog Studio
- Inverness Architectural Association, Ben Wyvis Primary school, The Highland Council
- Stirling Society of Architects, South Doll Farmhouse, The Pollock Hammond Partnership
The exhibition has been curated by Architecture and Design Scotland, Scotland’s champion for architecture and the built environment, on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland and Wood for Good.
Exhibition and Graphic Design: James Cargill
Exhibition Production: Eastern
Exhibition Photography: Alan Dimmick
