Lily Hitchcock

Student Winner 2025: Her Captain’s Chair

I am so grateful to have been nominated and selected to win the Student Prize at the Wood Awards 2025. I decided to submit after I had heard about the award through my peers and understood that it was a great opportunity to showcase a project that I am really proud of. I presented a piece that was representative of me, my craft and my passion for meaningful, functional and elegant design.

It hugely built my confidence just to be recognised for my skills and shortlisted as a finalist, and then as a winner. The opportunity to exhibit at Space House as part of the Material Matters show was an invaluable experience. It was encouraging to see ‘Her Captain’s Chair’ as part of a professional exhibition amongst a variety of other incredible projects. To see my chair lined up against industry standard work helped me to see that there is a place for me in the industry and to picture what my future impact in the field could be. I would recommend the Wood Awards to any student designer maker: I feel inspired and encouraged by the opportunity to see how wood is being used in new and sustainable ways across a range of design practices.

Project Information: Her Captain’s Chair

Alex Lynes, Webb Yates

Structural Winner 2025: Paradise

We always try to enter the Wood Awards as it’s one of the few accolades that champions sustainable materials in buildings alongside other industries, rather than in isolation.

Paradise is an exemplar of a low-carbon mass timber office, where the structural design drives the carbon outcome, and the Wood Awards felt like the right place to share that ambition. Any recognition by the Awards means a great deal, but the Structural category win was particularly valued by the team, given how central the engineering design is to the project.

The project pushed UK mass timber forward, achieving a 90-minute fire-resistant timber frame and employing fully demountable connections. Being recognised at the Awards helped share this precedent more widely, giving the industry confidence to adopt similar approaches and supporting conversations with clients looking to reduce embodied carbon.

Project Information: Paradise

Darren Appiagyei 

Sculpted Winner 2025: The Growth Project

The legacy of the Wood Awards was a huge motivation for me in applying. Having been established in 1971, the Awards carry real prestige, so it was a great honour to be shortlisted and later to win the Sculptured Object Award.

I was also keen to gain exposure for my new project and felt that the Wood Awards would be the perfect platform to connect with a wider audience and build meaningful connections.

Winning the award meant a great deal. It gave me confidence in my work and reinforced my belief that I’m moving in the right direction creatively.

The recognition has given me renewed motivation to continue pushing my skills and to further develop the concepts within my practice.

Project Information: The Growth Project

Laura Welsh

Sculpted Winner 2025: Red Knot

I’ve followed the Wood Awards for a number of years, as I’m particularly interested in unusual and innovative uses of timber. I’d seen work recognised in this way before — including projects from Hooke Park, where I studied on the Design + Make programme — so the Awards were always on my radar.

When I saw last year that a new ‘Sculptured Object’ category had been introduced, I decided to apply. My sculptural work sits across craft, art and design, but at its core is the use of wood as a material. The exhibition of shortlisted projects was a wonderful opportunity to see my work displayed alongside other objects, furniture and buildings united by that shared material language.

I was delighted to win the award alongside Darren Appiagyei. Living in a rural area of Scotland, it meant a great deal to have the opportunity to exhibit in London, meet other makers and see their work in person.

Project Information: Red Knot

Poppy Watters, Koto Design

Research & Innovation Winner 2024: Uist House

Winning the Research and Innovation category at the 2024 Wood Awards for our Uist House project was an incredible honour for the entire team at Koto. The Wood Awards celebrate the very best of timber design and craftsmanship in the UK, so to be recognised among such a strong field of projects was hugely special.

Our work on Uist House was a deeply research-led process, rooted in exploring sustainable, low-impact construction methods that respect both place and material. To have that commitment acknowledged by the judges not only validated our approach but also helped shine a light on the importance of innovation within architecture.

The experience of being part of the Wood Awards has been thoroughly rewarding, from the judging process to the opportunity to exhibit and engage with a wider audience of designers and makers. It’s opened up exciting conversations and new connections, and we would absolutely encourage others to enter.

Thank you to the Wood Awards for championing timber and inspiring a more sustainable and considered built environment!

Project Information: Uist House

Alex Radivan

Student Winner 2024: Karl & Rita

Taking part in the Wood Awards has been an incredible opportunity to showcase my passion for enduring, narrative-driven design. The exhibition provided a platform to present my work alongside talented designers/makers and connect with a wider audience that appreciates timber craftsmanship and innovation. Winning the Student Designer Award has not only given me confidence in my work but has also opened doors to new opportunities and conversations within the industry.

The recognition from the Wood Awards has been a vital step in my journey as a designer, and I am truly honoured to be part of such a celebration of craftsmanship and materiality.

Project Information: Karl & Rita

John Makepeace OBE

Bespoke Winner 2023: Serenade

I am keenly aware of the lack of communication between timber-growers, designers, architects and manufacturers in the UK, to the disadvantage of all parties. Serenade was made of oak, planted at Longleat in the 1740’s, and the quality of sylviculture  is beautifully demonstrated by the timber. It is unusual for me to have something available for submission, as most of my work is commissioned.

The Wood Awards exhibition is an exciting way to show the  short-listed items to a wide audience. Winning the Bespoke Wood Award has generated excellent press coverage. The piece is now part of a stunning private collection.

Project Information: Serenade

News: ‘Flowing and beautifully functional’ – the winning bespoke oak chest

Taro Tsuruta, Tsuruta Architects

Interior Winner 2023: Dragon Flat

As an architectural practice with a focus on wood design and construction, we have consistently chosen to enter the Wood Awards due to its rigorous selection process and longstanding reputation. Not only is the Wood Awards one of the oldest recognitions in our industry, but it also uniquely emphasises the importance of experiencing architecture in its intended form. Each nominated project undergoes a thorough evaluation, often with multiple site visits by the jury, ensuring a comprehensive assessment.

Our participation in the Wood Awards has significantly boosted our visibility within the UK timber construction sector. Winning these awards has led to new commissions from clients who discovered our work through the extensive coverage associated with the Awards. Moreover, the organisers’ dedication to excellence is evident in their proactive engagement with winners, from providing media materials to organising jury visits, setting a standard of professionalism that is truly commendable.

This commitment not only enhances our projects’ exposure but also advances the broader adoption of timber in architecture, fostering a more sustainable building industry in the UK.

Project Information: Dragon Flat

News: Refurbished council flat with ‘AI-generated’ engravings wins interior design award

Yasuyuki Sakurai, Mentsen

Production Winner 2023: The Exchange Tables and Chairs

Our reason to enter the Wood Awards in furniture category was partly to show appreciation to our clients for providing us with the opportunity to work on interesting projects, and also to gain a recognition as a studio working with wood and delivering high quality output. It’s nice to know that our works were recognised by the respected industry colleagues on the judging panel, and huge surprises both times to actually win the awards.

We also really appreciated the opportunity to exhibit the projects for free during the LDF, as showing anything during the design festival is usually a big commitment, and being a part of wood awards exhibition guarantees exposure to audiences outside of your usual contacts.

Project Information: The Exchange Tables and Chairs

News: Community design initiative takes top prize with volunteer-built furniture project

Joanne Grogan

Student Winner 2023: Rocaille Morphosis

Taking part in the Wood Awards was important to me as I feel it is an organisation that truly celebrates the diversity and beauty of wood.

It was a fantastic opportunity to exhibit along with the other artists, and makers at the Oxo Gallery, and to engage with the public and talk about my work.

I was honoured to have received the Student Designer Award and feel that it is important to give individuals entering the industry a platform to show their work professionally.

Project Information: Rocaille Morphosis

Mike Tonkin, Tonkin Liu

Restoration & Reuse Winner 2022: The Water Tower

Tonkin Liu has entered the Wood Awards over the years because we have great respect for the quality of the past winners and the rigour of the judging process. The calibre of the work is always high; it sets a bar for our practice to aspire to and learn from.

Project Information: The Water Tower

News: The New Restoration and Reuse Category

designTimber (TDUK) on YouTube: Water Tower