The Wood Awards 2025 has unveiled its highly anticipated shortlist, showcasing an array of exceptional projects in both building and furniture categories. This year’s shortlist is a testament to the enduring beauty and versatility of timber, as the industry continues to embrace the material for its sustainability and creative potential. From intricate furniture pieces to inspiring architectural designs, these projects demonstrate the power of wood in shaping the built environment.
Celebrating Exceptional Timber Use Across the UK
The 30 shortlisted projects are spread across the United Kingdom, from the Cornish coast to the Lake District National Park. The shortlist features 20 outstanding buildings and 10 exceptional furniture and object projects. These entries have been carefully selected from over 200 submissions by expert juries, highlighting innovative and sustainable uses of timber in both construction and design.
The shortlisted buildings include a barrel-vaulted extension to Westminster’s coroner’s court, a redevelopment of a historic water mill in Hampshire, and a new social housing terrace by Hackney Council. The projects range from bold commercial structures to sensitive renovations, showcasing wood’s ability to meet modern design needs while promoting sustainability.
Innovative Timber Furniture Designs
In the furniture category, the shortlist features a range of creative and innovative designs. Among the standouts is a freestanding demountable Douglas fir kitchen, as well as a sculptural collection of vessels crafted from local hardwoods. A steam-bent ash rocking chair and a jetty structure made from forest thinnings also demonstrate the versatility of timber in creating functional and artistic pieces.
Sebastian Cox, head of the Furniture & Object judging panel, praised the breadth and quality of submissions. He stated, “The breadth and quality of submissions to this year’s awards highlight the enduring beauty, versatility, and expressive potential of wood. It’s clear that designers and makers across the UK are not only embracing wood for its sustainability but also inventively exploring its unique characteristics to tell new stories through form, texture, and function.”
Rigorous Selection Process
The projects were reviewed by two expert juries to ensure the highest standards of quality and innovation. The Wood Awards buildings jury, led by architect Jim Greaves, includes a distinguished group of professionals from architecture, engineering, and sustainability sectors. The furniture and objects jury, led by designer and maker Sebastian Cox, is composed of experts in design, curation, and woodworking.
Jim Greaves, head of the buildings jury, remarked on the challenging selection process: “Chosen from over 80 entries, these 20 shortlisted projects have undergone a rigorous selection process. The judges review all the entries and assess them for their creative use of wood together with the technical skill involved and the approach to environmental issues.”
Key Shortlisted Projects in the Building Category
The 20 shortlisted buildings include a diverse range of projects that demonstrate wood’s adaptability in various contexts. Notable entries include:
- Vert, London by Diez Office
- Westminster Coroner’s Court, London by Lynch Architects
- Amento, Suffolk by James Gorst Architects
- Walworth Town Hall, London by Feix & Martin
- Urban Nature Project, Natural History Museum, London by Feilden Fowles
These projects showcase timber’s ability to transform spaces, from contemporary civic buildings to carefully restored historical structures.
Key Shortlisted Projects in the Furniture and Object Category
In the furniture and object category, standout entries include:
- A Forest Datum by the Design + Make Post Grad Course, Architectural Association
- Karyo Rocking Chair by Isabelle Moore Design
- A Banqueting Table Reimagined by Box 9 and TedWood
- Somer Kitchen at Balbougie Steading by Somer
- Levity Collection by Katie Walker Furniture and Gaze Burvill
These pieces demonstrate how designers are pushing the boundaries of timber use, creating both functional and sculptural works of art.
Celebrating Timber’s Role in Sustainability
David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK, highlighted the significance of this year’s shortlist: “This year’s Wood Awards shortlist demonstrates that timber is unmatched when it comes to creating beautiful, versatile, and sustainable buildings and objects. Each shortlisted entry highlights the power of wood to connect people with nature and elevate the places we live and work in.”
He continued, “The benefits of choosing to create with timber are echoed in the response of those who live in or alongside these projects – who consistently tell us how timber enriches their spaces and experiences.”
Join the Celebration at Material Matters and the Wood Awards Ceremony
The shortlisted projects will be displayed at Space House in London from 17–20 September as part of the Material Matters exhibition. This exhibition provides an opportunity for industry professionals and the public to explore the innovative use of timber in architecture and design.
The winners of each category will be announced at a live ceremony on Wednesday, 19 November, at Carpenters’ Hall in London. All category winners will then compete for the prestigious Gold Award, recognising the pinnacle of timber design excellence.
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