Timber iQ February - March 2019 // Issue: 42 | Page 56
TALKING TIMBER
Participants gathered at the Timber Competition workshop which took place on 6 October 2018 at the Hout Bay House.
New timber competition launched
The Wood Student Foundation in cooperation with HWZ International
SA and the Hout Bay House Team has come up with a unique project
for architects and would-be architects.
By HWZ International SA
T
he Timber Competition is a brand new project for
architects and architectural students and was recently
launched to give participants the opportunity to gain
experience and the chance to win a one-week internship
in Europe.
The Timber Competition asks participants to do a
straightforward assignment: to design a sustainable timber
construction for a South African family.
WHAT IS THE TIMBER COMPETITION?
The project focuses mainly on South African architects
(under the age of 35 years) and students who must be
South Africans or South African residents. The objective is
to widen the interest in modern sustainable construction
and encourage young architects and also to obtain new
experience.
The contestants will present their draft to a professional
jury at the next Wood Conference in Cape Town. There are
no budget constraints. The architect / student must ensure
that they construct an ecologically friendly timber
construction for a young family with three children – with
all the necessities they might need. Participants are asked
to design a house for virtual couple John and Amy and their
three children.
WHAT IS THE LATEST UPDATE?
The Timber Competition has already begun and 15
participants have submitted their projects. There was also a
54 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019 //
first workshop for the contestants in October 2018, which
was a wonderful experience for the young architects, jury
and the organisers of the competition.
ALL ARE THE WINNERS
Although there can be just one winner all the participants
are already winners and they are part of something to be
proud of, something big and amazing where they can make
change happen and design a modern yet affordable home
that is sustainable and eco-friendly for young families.
The first prize is a one-week internship in Europe
including flight tickets and accommodation. The second
prize is a weekend in the Hout Bay House for a maximum of
four people. All the contestants will gain experience and
also the chance to network with colleagues from all over
South Africa and other countries like Austria, Cech Republic
and Switzerland where they will have access to innovative
building material producers and suppliers as well as work
with sustainable materials. They will literally (and
symbolically) open the door to a new age of housing.
For more information about individual drafts,
visit: www.timber-competition.co.za.
View all the entries and photos on Facebook and
Instagram at: www.facebook.com/timber.competition
@timber.competition
www.timberiq.co.za