Australian Timber Design Awards Categories
The Awards competition is organised into three classes of timber design categories: Timber Design; Merit; and Timber Products.
Entry Categories
You must choose the Timber Design Award Category to enter the Australian Timber Design Award. You may also nominate your project for any Merit or Timber Products category that you feel is also suitable. This is in addition to consideration for one of the Timber Design group categories. Find out more about the entry rules in the sections below.
Timber Design
Category
The Timber Design class group of categories is MANDATORY to enter.
Merit
Category
The Merit class group of categories are FREE and OPTIONAL to enter.
Product
Category
Recognising excellence in the use of specific timber products in a project.
What are the Timber Design Categories?
CATEGORY DEFINITION
Any of the below categories where the design project was based overseas and which was completed within the last 3 years.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The use of timber in furniture and/or joinery (e.g. in stairs, wardrobes, etc).
CATEGORY DEFINITION
A fit-out of a new or existing building (including renovations). The building may be multiple residential or commercial (offices, shops, building foyers, etc.) i.e. not a single-family dwelling.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
A fitout of a new or existing single-family dwelling (including renovations).
CATEGORY DEFINITION
Landscaped outdoor areas that feature timber.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
Where a building contains separate accommodation for unrelated occupants (example: apartment building, hotel, motel, aged care, student accommodation).
CATEGORY DEFINITION
A building that has a function other than residential i.e. library, institutional, education, school, government office, hospital etc.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
A building that has a function other than residential i.e. office, retail, industrial, entertainment, restaurant, etc.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
A single-family dwelling or a single townhouse/villa that has been altered or added to. If the addition is a completely separate building to the existing structure, it is considered to be Residential Class 1 – New Building.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
A new detached single-family dwelling.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
These projects must be unattached stand-alone structures. They include sculpture, artwork, features within building foyers, bus shelters, picnic shelters, shelters, playground equipment, wharves, bridges, boardwalks, observation structures, etc.
Timber Design Category Entry Rules
The Timber Design class group of categories is MANDATORY to enter. You have a choice of ten (10) categories to choose from.
Thus, you must enter at least one (1) of the Timber Design categories as listed on the left.
Note, that entering two or more of these categories can be selected if your project fits the criteria, but the project must be exemplary to have a good chance of winning. The Timber Design competition class recognises excellence in timber design for a given building or application.
If you feel that your entry project meets more than one of the Timber Design category definitions, you have the option of entering it in more than one category but at an additional cost. A generous discount for two category project entry submission on behalf of one company is available.
Note: regarding the right category to enter
The Timber Design Categories relate to a National Construction Code Building classification, for example, Residential Class 1 – New building is the NCC’s Class 1 building classification. Another example is Multi-Residential refers to NCC Buiding Classification, Class 2, 3 or 4.
Where an entry is a building and does not fit into an NCC classification, contact us and we will assist. Also, small auxiliary buildings, for example, toilets, bus shelters or the like are considered a Stand-Alone Structure.
Our staff will be happy to assist you if you are not sure which category best fits your project.
What are the Merit Categories?
CATEGORY DEFINITION:
The entry that makes the best use of sustainable design principles that includes timber. This includes all items of the sustainable design, not just that timber has been included. Judging for this category is conducted separately by Planet Ark’s Make it Wood campaign. They are particularly interested in how timber use has added to sustainable design.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best entry from an entrant who was (1) aged 35 or under on the date of the project’s completion or (2) enrolled in full-time study on the completion date. The designer must be responsible for a substantial portion of the design and not just be a team member.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best entry based on a project costing less than $200,000.
Merit Category Entry Rules
In addition to consideration for one or more of the mandatory Timber Design class categories, entering your project into any of the Merit categories, as listed on the left, is possible if your project fits the criteria, but the project must be exemplary to have a good chance of winning.
The Merit class group of categories are FREE and OPTIONAL to enter, only select one or more of these categories if you feel the project is an excellent and suitable example in the chosen category.
Our staff will be happy to assist you if you are not sure which category best fits your project.
What are the Timber Product Categories?
CATEGORY DEFINITION:
This Award recognises excellence in the use of Australian Certified Timber and/or timber products which are sourced from Australian forests. “Certified timber” means timber sourced from a forest certified under a credible forest management certification scheme such as Responsible Wood (Australian Forestry Standard) which is endorsed by PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification) and/or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). The project will require a substantial amount (greater than 50%) of Australian Certified timber to be considered. Where imported timber products have been used nominate what timber certification scheme (if any) they comply too.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best use of products such as Glulam, LVL, CLT, LSL and I-beams.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best use of timber that meets this definition: Recycled timber is timber that has been previously used and has served its initial purpose. Recycled timber may be re-used either in its original cross-sectional size or following re-manufacture into smaller dimensions.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best use of timber coverings to the outside of a building. Timber coverings can be solid or panels.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best use of solid or engineered timber flooring.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best use of products such as plywood, MDF, hardboard and/or particleboard.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best aesthetic use of timber veneers in, for example, furniture, joinery or linings/coverings of any kind.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
The best aesthetic use of timber veneers in, for example, furniture, joinery or linings/coverings of any kind.
CATEGORY DEFINITION
This Award is for the best design and functional use of timber windows and doors.
Timber Product Category Entry Rules
In addition to consideration for one or more of the mandatory Timber Design class categories, entering your project into any of the Timber Products categories, as listed on the left, is possible if your project fits the criteria, but the project must be exemplary to have a good chance of winning.
The Timber Products competition class recognises excellence in the use of specific timber products in a project. The product must be used in a unique way that makes it stand out.
Note that entering any of these categories just because the project includes the timber product is not sufficient.
Entries must contain sufficient information to warrant their consideration. For example, to be eligible for the Timber Cladding category, an entry must comprehensively detail the location, type, coating use and unique characteristics of all timber cladding used.
Please indicate when filling in the online questionnaire form if your entry includes noteworthy use of timber products. Judges have the discretion to include your project in any of the Timber Products categories if they believe it is worthy of consideration.
The Timber Products class group of categories are FREE and OPTIONAL to enter and the Awards may not be given where the Category is not sponsored.
Our staff will be happy to assist you if you are not sure which category best fits your project.
Choosing Your Categories
Not sure how to choose the right category to enter your project in for the Australian Timber Design Awards?
Submission Process
Not sure where to start?
Initial registration is free for the Australian Timber Design Awards is free, you can then contact the Australian Timber Design Awards to request assistance with your entry categories.
Once your entry registration is recorded you will be able to start a submission where you get to select your entry categories and then you get to complete your chosen category questionnaire as part of the process.
The online submission process can be done in bits at a time and for your ease of preparation, you can request individual category questionnaires from the Australian Timber Design Awards office.
All competition entries will be considered for a People’s Choice award. The public will choose this winner via an online poll.
The overall winner is also awarded by the judging panel. This award is selected based on the entry that they consider to be foremost among all entries. Only the winners of the ten Timber Design class categories will be considered for the overall Australian Timber Design Award.
Entries are Now Closed for the 2024 Awards
Entry is open to architects, builders, building designers, engineers, and students working on projects based in Australia OR projects built overseas but designed/managed by an Australian firm.
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