Wood Awards Ireland 2020 (WAI) is open to registered architects, engineers, designers, woodworkers and other practitioners throughout Ireland who incorporate wood as the inherent medium in submitted projects. Supported by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), WAI 2020 is also open to Irish practitioners based overseas. WAI is part funded by the Forest Sector Development Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Coillte and Enterprise Ireland. RIAI and the Society of Irish Foresters provide administration and promotional support. The awards ceremony will be held on the 12th of November 2020 at a Dublin venue to be announced, subject to COVID-19 guidelines.
Eligible projects must be completed during the period 1 August 2016 and 30 June 2020 and construction projects must be in compliance with the Building Regulations. Sustainable timber sourcing is a key element of the project with emphasis on energy efficiency. Timber used must be sourced in sustainably managed forests and conform to the EU Timber Regulation (No 995/2010).
AWARD CATEGORIES
Entries are accepted in eight categories listed on the WMF website.
• Large-scale public buildings: Emphasis on wood as a structural component. Located in Ireland or abroad but with major Irish architectural input by a Registered Architect MRIAI
• Small-scale private buildings by a registered architect MRIAI
• International award – best overseas project by a registered architect MRIAI, engineer or designer (all categories)
• Restoration and conservation
• Furniture: a) bespoke; and/or b) production
• Innovation – functional and non-functional: Wood Local (local sourcing, processing and making); Wood Innovate (creative, sculptural, conceptual); and c) Wood Work (craft and related woodwork )
• Newcomer award: Wood based start-up businesses, established since 2015
• Student Wood Awards – entries accepted from third level colleges in all categories
HOW TO ENTER
One application form per entry below (or download www.wood.ie), which should be accompanied by five photographs (not less than 2,00KB (2 MB) per image accepted in PDF or JPEG). These may be produced in the catalogue of finalists (with photographer acknowledgement) published prior to the awards ceremony.
Entries and photographs to be submitted online by email (info@wood.ie) by 17 July 2020. Each entry will require a separate application.
Entry fee: €90 for first entry and €60 for each subsequent entry. €20 entry fee for students. Cheques to Society of Irish Foresters c/o Pat O’Sullivan, Glenealy, Co. Wicklow A67 Y795, by 17 July 2020
One A1 poster (841×1,189 mm) as an online PDF for each project containing relevant information on project (description, drawings and photographs) to be emailed to info@wood.ie (maximum size 10MB), Dropbox and WeTransfer are also possible to info@wood.ie.
The judging panel will shortlist entries and plans to visit projects in Ireland where necessary during August and September, subject to Covid-19 guidelines. Otherwise projects will be judged on online applications. Notice will be given of visits and where possible applicant should be present. In addition to information above, the judges will accept additional imagery such as videos and YouTube posts for international projects. Judges decisions are final.
Denise Maguire
Editor of Plan Magazine
Email: denise@mcdmedia.ie
