There are five main categories for which one winner and one highly commended project will be awarded by the panel of judges. The criteria for these awards are based on design, craftsmanship, quality of installation and do not take size or value into account. Entries can be made for one, or more, of the following categories:
Categories
Commercial & Public Access
This category includes all public and commercial buildings funded by public or private clients. Examples include schools, libraries, offices, buildings with public access, hotels and restaurants and public leisure facilities.
Private
This category includes privately funded projects for private (non-commercial) clients. Examples include residential property, new builds and extensions.
Structural
This category includes timber-frame buildings, bridges, interior and exterior structures and decking, funded by private or public clients.
Conservation/Restoration
This category includes any project in the private or public sector in which conservation and/or restoration is the primary objective. The project may be structural or non-structural. Extensions and new buildings are excluded from this category. The scale of the work is not a significant criterion.
The Gold Award
The Gold Award is awarded by the judges to the best winner from the architectural-based categories, regardless of category entered.
Furniture
Entries are invited for furniture to the highest standards of design made either as individual pieces, or as batches from small workshops as well as larger manufacturers. Anyone may enter any piece(s) with the permission of the current owner.
2009 sees the introduction of four sub-categories for Furniture:
- Single-piece domestic furniture: for bespoke furniture pieces designed for interior domestic settings. Examples include the Furniture Winner from 2006, the Ribbon Chair by Katie Walker.
- Single-piece for a publicly accessible space: for bespoke furniture pieces designed for use in interior public spaces. Examples include Philip Koomen’s shortlisted Hay Festival Collection from 2008.
- Exterior furniture: for bespoke furniture pieces designed for exterior use in public and/or private settings. Examples include the Furniture Winner from 2008, The Sleeping Dragon by chaircreative.
- Production furniture (both mass produced and small batch): for both small batch and mass produced production furniture designed for the domestic and/or commercial markets.
Pieces may only be entered in one sub-category, and judges will select one winner from each.
Special Awards
The judges may also, at their sole discretion, give special recognition for outstanding work with a Small Project Award, Innovation Award, Best Use of British Timber, Best Use of Panel Products and an Off-site Manufactured Project Award. These special awards enable The Wood Awards and its sponsors to recognise the full range of projects demonstrating excellence in wood and made in Britain. Special awards are irrespective of category entered.
