Inaugural Urban Timber winner announced

Nicholas Camerer, from Fremantle, WA, has been announced as the winner of the inaugural Intergrain Urban Timber Project.

Premium Australian wood care brand, Intergrain, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), launched the national design competition as a challenge to the new generation of Australian landscape and design professionals to design a functional piece of urban furniture for the community garden in Werribee Park, Victoria.

The winner, titled “Hatch”, was chosen by an esteemed panel comprising renowned industry leaders, including Daniel Bennett – AILA National President, landscape architect, and Design and Transport Manager at Adelaide City Council; Michelle Herbut – Custom Product Manager at Street Furniture Australia; James Brincat, Parks Victoria; and Amanda Chalmers – Senior Brand Manager, Intergrain Timber Finishes.

A versatile timber bench with a curved form and strong vertical timber elements, “Hatch” is an impressively simple piece. The curved shape has been carefully considered to enhance the communal space, while the timber reflects the heritage of the garden as well as being a strong, natural and sustainable material. When not in use by people, the structural cross beams can become a leaning rack for tools and garden stakes. And the bench is designed to be easily maintained and cleaned.

“I’m thrilled to win the first Intergrain Urban Timber Project. I can’t wait to see my design brought to life and used in the fantastic community garden at Werribee Park, where the growth of the users occurs alongside the growth of the plants,” says Camerer.

Camerer’s winning design will now be constructed by iconic Australian design manufacturer Street Furniture Australia, before being revealed at the Historic Farm Precinct at Werribee Park in April 2016.

In addition to the kudos of having a design brought to life for the public, Camerer receives a $2,000 cash prize, an exclusive mentoring lunch with a renowned industry professional, 50 litres of Intergrain product and a 1-year Graduate AILA membership.

Intergrain Trade Brand Manager, Amanda Chalmers, says, “We were incredibly impressed by the quality of the entries, especially the winning design. ‘Hatch’ is a wonderfully thoughtful piece of furniture that will become a place of reflection in the garden, as well somewhere that brings the Karen people closer with members of the public.”

Daniel Bennett, National President of AILA, agreed: “From the outset we were looking for a design that would enhance this special and valuable space in Werribee Park community garden, especially for the volunteers like the Karen people. And Nicholas’s design achieves this beautifully.”

Street Furniture Australia has generously offered to make the design a reality, a project that Custom Product Manager and competition judge Michelle Herbut says the team is very much looking forward to.

“Nicholas has done a great job of incorporating all of the project elements, it is a well-considered design. The seats look rustic and light, which I think will suit the garden and the structure, and the pop of colour is a nice addition,” she says.

“The natural aesthetic of the timber is really showcased by using wide planks of hardwood and will only be highlighted further by coating it in oil. We are looking forward to manufacturing it.”

James Brincat from Park Victoria commented, “The winning design will undoubtedly contribute to and grow the valuable sense of community in the garden. We can’t wait to unveil it in the New Year.”

The winning design will be unveiled in April 2016. Visit www.intergrain.com.au for more details.