October 2004

European Softwood Conference
Vienna, Austria – 21 –22 October 2004

27 October 2004

The 52nd European Softwood has agreed on the crucial importance of extending promotional activity to expand the European market for softwood and softwood products.

Charles Hopping, the leader of the UK delegation said, “The Conference clearly identified the critical importance of greater marketing and the promotion of softwood and softwood products, as part of supporting continued growth in the UK market, at a time when a downturn in demand is forecast.”

The Conference mandated the CEI-Bois to collate individual country experiences and to report on these at the Softwood Presidents’ meeting next January. This followed presentations from the UK, Austria and Italy on the their promotional campaigns and an extensive discussion of the merits of more promotion to increase the consumption of softwood.

The Conference also discussed the importance of forest certification and the communication of those benefits and it emphasised the need to provide information at all stages of the supply chain to maximise confidence in users and specifiers of softwood, that the product supplied comes from a sustainable source.

The Conference confirmed that softwood consumption amongst its Members in 2003 had increased by 6 million cubic metres (2%) over 2002 and it has been estimated to increase by 12 million cubic metres (3.6%) in 2004.

Developments in 2005 are less clear with consumption predicted to decline in North America, rising in Europe and the Far East. Higher oil prices and a strong Euro could have a negative impact on the market but the high price of steel and other competitor materials could be a positive influence on timber consumption. An overall reduction in consumption is forecasted for 2005, down by over 5 million cubic metres (1.6%).

The importance of the CEI-Bois “ Roadmap 2010 for the European Woodworking Industries “ and the EU’s approach to policy on forest-based industries were also reviewed and discussed.

For further information contact Mark O’Brien on 020020 7839 1891

The Wood Awards 2004 Gold Award has been won by Norwich Cathedral Visitors’ Centre.

Hopkins Architects entered the project, on which they worked with structural engineers Buro Happold, main contractors R G Carter, and joinery company Coulson Building Group. Norwich Cathedral Visitors’ Centre won the Commercial & Pubic Access category, and was unanimously voted by the judges as overall winner, thus receiving the Gold Award.  The winners of each category were announced at the Carpenters’ Hall on 19th October to an audience of over 200 invited guests.

This year, the winners of The Wood Awards 2004 are Norwich Cathedral Visitors’ Centre in the Commercial & Public Access category; Wakelins in the Private category; Kingsdale School Auditorium in the Structural category, and Conservation & Repair of Southwest Quarter, Ightham Mote in the Conservation / Restoration category. Gordon Cowley received the Innovation Award for his widely used Cowley Connector, and the Flame Feature Staircase won the Small Project Award – introduced this year.

Two projects – St.Paul’s Church “A New Heart for Bow” and the Supreme Court Library in Edinburgh - were highly commended in the hotly contended Commercial & Public Access category; Black Rubber Beach House was highly commended in the Private category; Great Barn Restoration Project received a highly commended in the Structural category, and Dolbelydr, a 16th Century Welsh manor house renovation, was highly commended in the Conservation / Restoration category.

The awards were presented by Michael Dickson, Chairman of structural engineers Buro Happold, who said: “It is wonderful to see wood used so enthusiastically and in more and more buildings. Wood is our only renewable building material and the aim of The Wood Awards, and indeed each individual sponsor, is to encourage the use of sustainable wood in construction. The entries this year especially display just how beautiful wood can be and how extensively it can be used.”

Chairman of the judges, Giles Downes of Sidell Gibson, writes in this year’s awards supplement of the record 232 entries, and says “reducing this number to arrive at a shortlist was even harder than last year, although we were helped a lot by the high quality of photographs with the entries…eventually settling on a shortlist of 25 projects.” He goes on to explain, “Particularly striking for me has been to see at first hand the enthusiasm and commitment of so many young architects, designers and craftsmen and the loving care that they have brought to their individual projects.”

The Wood Awards provide a unique opportunity and a remarkable collaboration for the seventeen generic sponsors to promote wood, and includes the Timber Trade Federation, the British Woodworking Federation, the wood. for good. campaign, English Heritage, The Carpenters’ Company and the Institute of Carpenters.  Supplier sponsors include the American Hardwood Export Council, the Malaysian Timber Council and the Ghana Forestry Commission. 

Notes to Editor:

ENCLOSURES:

• A chart detailing the winning and highly commended entries of The Wood Awards 2004
• A CD of high resolution photography of winning and highly commended projects

The Wood Awards 2004

Sponsors of The Wood Awards 2004 include the American Forest & Paper Association, American Hardwood Export Council, BRE, British Woodworking Federation, Carpenters' Company, English Heritage, Ghana Forestry Commission, Historic Scotland, Institute of Carpenters, Institute of Wood Science, Malaysian Timber Council, TRADA, Timber Trade Federation, Timber Trades Journal (TTJ), UKFPA (Forest Products Association), WMSA (Woodworking Machinery Suppliers Assoc.) and wood. for good.

Full details of all sponsors, and more information of The Wood Awards, can be found at www.woodawards.com

For press information, please contact:
Lucy Kamall, Turnstone Communications Ltd.
Tel: 020 7709 7408
Email: lucy@turnstonecommunications.com