2016 Intergrain Timber Vision Award winners announced

Winners of the seventh annual Intergrain Timber Vision Awards were announced today, once again demonstrating a high calibre of talent in Australia and New Zealand’s building and landscaping industry.

From a unique, beachfront boardwalk to a modern equestrian centre and an inner-city terrace, a varied and remarkable collection of projects were recognised for showcasing their creative and visionary use of timber.

From an unprecedented 191 entries this year, a panel of judges chose winners across six different award categories including: Commercial Interior, Commercial Exterior, Residential Interior, Residential Exterior, Landscape and this year’s new category – the Travel Bursary.

The Travel Bursary Award, which awards the winner with a $2,000 prize, is a new award for 2016 and is being introduced to enable Intergrain to build stronger relationships with leading Architects in Australia and New Zealand.

All other winners from each category received $2,000 cash (cheque) plus up to 100L of Intergrain products to the value of $2,500.

The winners, who were announced at this morning’s breakfast reception at ACMI, Federation Square, were:

Best Commercial Interior – 106 Flinders Street by Bates Smart (VIC)

Best Commercial Exterior – Merricks Equestrian Centre by Watson Architecture + Design (VIC)

Best Landscape – McCulloch Avenue Boardwalk by Site Office (VIC)

Best Residential Exterior – West End House by Richard Kirk Architect (QLD)

Best Residential Interior – LuxeTen by Maria Danos Architecture (VIC)

The Travel Bursary – Cumulus Studio (TAS)

According to Intergrain Senior Brand Manager, Trade, Sonia Tousis, the calibre of this year’s entrants was second to none.

“In its seventh consecutive year of the Intergrain Timber Vision Awards, we continue to be astounded by the astonishing projects that push the boundaries of normal timber application.

“We were moved by the ability of both the Australian and New Zealand entrants to showcase their unique and visionary use of timber. All projects were absolutely beautiful in their own way and enabled the true quality of the material to speak for itself,” said Tousis.

The judging panel included Cameron Bruhn – Editorial Director at Architecture Media, Melinda Payne – Associate in the WA Office of the Government Architect, Sue Barnsley – Principal of Sue Barnsley Design Landscape Architects and for the first time from NZ, Chris Kelly – Architect and founder of Architecture Workshop.

Overall Winner: McCulloch Avenue Boardwalk by Site Office (VIC)
Located in Victoria, McCulloch Avenue Boardwalk was celebrated by the judges as a standout winner. According to the judges, the project utilised brave simplicity, resulting in ‘raw expression of design’. Site Office chose timber as the perfect medium to express their vision, creating a public piece that is available for everyone to enjoy.

Commercial Interior Award Winner: 106 Flinders Street by Bates Smart (VIC)
106 Flinders Street took out the Commercial Interior Award, with the judges commenting that “the profiled timbers and columns are beautiful and the precision is incredible. The panel thought the finished project felt incredibly serene, with a use of timber that was ‘rational yet sensual’.

Commended: There was no shortage of standout projects in this category. Novartis by HDR | Rice Daubney was commended for its design, which the judges felt had a single purpose, ‘to hero timber’. Mandeville Centre, Loreto, by Architectus also was commended for its inspiring design, while Bento Box by Cumulus Studio received a special mention for its economical use of timber.

Commercial Exterior Award Winner: Merricks Equestrian Centre by Watson Architecture + Design (VIC)
The judges merited Merricks Equestrian Centre with the Commercial Exterior Award, with the judges stating that the project ‘heroes timber in a stunning way’. The project is also sympathetic to the landscape through its architectural form and use of durable and sustainable materials.

Commended: Devonport Library by Athfield Architects Limited and Three Capes Track Cabins by JAWSARCHITECTS both received a commendation. The Judges said Three Capes Track Cabins used timber both structurally and in the detail in a ‘well measured and considered way’.

Commended: The judges also awarded Repetitive Structure in NSW by ManoArchitects with a special mention. They admired how the project ‘invites people to look at the cliff and surrounding area in a totally new dynamic’.

Residential Exterior Award Winner: West End House by Richard Kirk Architect (QLD)
West End House won the Residential Exterior Award for its use of timber – both structurally and visually, The judges admired the repetition of fine detail in the timber and also felt the project demonstrated restraint and thought.

Commended: Cut-away Roof House by Scale Architecture received a commendation for their demonstration of the versatility of timber in external application. The judges also deemed this project to have a ‘beautiful sense of consistency’.

Residential Interior Award Winner: LuxeTen by Maria Danos Architecture
The Residential Interior Award was awarded to LuxeTen. Maria Danos Architecture has used timber in a unique way by treating the timber in different ways throughout the project. The judges felt the different applications of timber created a moody and atmospheric house.

Commended: The judges’ commendation went to Darling Point Apartment by Chenchow Little and Bardon Residence by Kieron Gait Architects. The judges appreciated the cohesive use of timber, which created beautiful spaces in each project. In addition, the judges awarded Carine House by Pendal and Neille with a special mention. The judges were impressed by the fact that a “standard home could be completely transformed by timber”, but in a subtle way.

Travel Bursary Award Winner: Cumulus Studio (TAS)
Cumulus Studio was awarded the inaugural Travel Bursary for their diverse work that exists over a range of building types. To receive a Travel Bursary, the entrant must submit five projects that were created over the last 10 years. Cumulus Studio’s projects were: Bell Buoy Beach House, Bento Box, Devil’s Corner, Pumphouse Point and Willie Smith’s. The variety of textures and many applications of timber were highly regarded by the judges.