From our archives: 2004 Australian Timber Design Award - Dawson Brown Architecture - Bungan Beach House
Over the past twelve years, the Australian Timber Design Awards has witnessed a sea change in timber
design. If you're thinking of
entering the Awards,
it's worth being aware of the five biggest trends making up this change:
Sustainability. Public demand for low carbon footprint buildings has seen
unprecedented innovation in Australian timber design. Projects such as Melbourne's
Grocon building
are the way of the future, achieving carbon neutrality through a rich spectrum of timber products.
Engineered wood products innovation. Designers are recognising the structural
and aesthetic qualities of a new generation of engineered wood products -- products that
allow rapid construction of sturdy timber-based buildings. Projects such as
The National Portrait Gallery,
from 2009, indicate the potential of these innovations.
Building taller.
Waugh Thistleton's acclaimed nine storey
Stadhaus
exemplifies the use of structural timber in mid-rise buildings. This recent trend is also
evidenced by the growing popularity of two or three storey commercial and multi-residential
timber framed buildings.
Broader palettes. Entries into the Awards have featured increasingly varied
timber palettes. Designers now favour native Australian timber species and naturally
coloured -- rather than dyed -- veneers and panels.
