THE AWARDS CATEGORIES
The Australian Timber Design Awards and Competition is organised into three classes of timber design categories. Namely - Timber Design, Merits, and Timber Products.
The Timber Design award categories are mandatory to enter. Your entry may be considered for any Merit or Timber Products' award category for which you feel it is 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.
Woodleigh School Homestead Redevelopment by Law Architects. Image: Drew Echberg
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Timber Design Categories
Category definition:
Any of the above categories where the design project was based overseas and which was completed within the last 3 years.
If unsure of your category please email your brief description and image to inbox@timberdesignawards.com.au and we will direct you to the correct grouping.
Class 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 the one company is available.
**Hint regarding the right category to enter**
The Timber Design Category building category are 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 a NCC classification, contact us and we will assist. Also small auxilary buildings, fore example, toilets, bus shelters or the like are considered as Stand-Alone Structures
The Australian Timber Design Awards office staff will be happy to assist you if you are not sure which category best fits your project. Please contact us on +61 420 232 253.
Merit Categories
Category definition:
The entry that makes 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.
If unsure of your category please email your brief description and image to inbox@timberdesignawards.com.au and we will direct you to the correct grouping.
Class 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.
Timber Products 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 AFS (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.
If unsure of your category please email your brief description and image to inbox@timberdesignawards.com.au and we will direct you to the correct grouping.
Class 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.
The Submission Process and Asking for Help
If you are having difficulties in choosing the right category to enter your project in for the Australian Timber Design Awards competition, you can always start with a free online registration and then call the Australian Timber Design Awards' office to request assistance about the categories.
Essentially, 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.
Note, the online submission process can be done in bits at a time and for your ease of preparation you can request from the Australian Timber Design Awards office individual category questionnaires.
Further, all competition entries will be considered for a People's Choice award. The public will choose the winner via an online poll.
Lastly, the overall winner is also awarded. The judging panel will bestow this award 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.