An increasing number of innovative Irish architects, engineers and designers are now using wood in a wide range of construction and design projects. They are still some way behind their European counterparts, who are building high-rise apartments and office blocks up to 84m high using 80% engineered wood.

The Wood Marketing Federation (WMF) is organising this year’s Wood Awards Ireland (WAI), supported by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), Coillte and Enterprise Ireland to reward architects, engineers, designers, woodworkers and researchers who use wood as an inherent medium in their work.

Sustainable timber sourcing and usage is a key element of the awards, with emphasis on energy efficiency. WAI 2020 highlights the role of wood as a renewable material in decarbonising the economy.

Wood usage has a number of positive climate benefits, beginning in the forests with carbon sequestration. Carbon storage is prolonged in buildings and other products, while its major benefit lies in its displacement of fossil-based materials, such as concrete and steel.

Projects submitted to WAI 2020 should have a high wood content, but wood can be combined with other materials. Wood can be used in sawn, engineered or in composite form, providing it is sourced in sustainably managed forests and conforms to the EU Timber Regulation and Irish building regulations. Entries are accepted in eight categories:

  • Large-scale public buildings, where the emphasis is on wood as a structural component.
  • Small-scale private buildings.
  • International award – best overseas project by an Irish practitioner.
  • Restoration and conservation.
  • Furniture – both bespoke and production.
  • Innovation – functional and non-functional work, including local projects in processing, craft, research and sculpture.
  • Newcomer award – aimed at wood-based startup businesses, established since 2015.
  • Student Wood Awards – entries accepted from third-level colleges in all categories.
  • An overall award will be presented for the outstanding WAI project, while awards will also be presented to category winners. These are designed and made by Michael Warren, Ireland’s leading sculptor and honorary member of RIAI. Because this biennial event did not take place in 2018, projects completed since 1 August 2016 are accepted.

    The closing date for entries is 31 July 2020. Further information is available on Wood Marketing Federation (www.wood.ie) and RIAI (www.riai.ie/whats-on/news/wood-awards-2020). Also email info@wood.ie.

    The need for greater use of wood in construction

    Most literature on the benefits of forestry for climate change mitigation in Ireland concentrate on growing timber in the forest. But planting trees is not the only way forestry can contribute. There are also major benefits in how we use harvested wood and wood products, especially in construction. Between 14% and 31% of global carbon dioxide emissions could be avoided by preventing emissions related to steel and concrete and by storing carbon in the cellulose and lignin of wood products for construction and other uses.

    While European architects are now designing buildings up to 24 storeys tall with engineered wood, building regulations in Ireland only allow wood up to three storeys. European architects are using softwoods for the structural timber, mainly Norway spruce and Scots pine. Research being carried out in NUIG shows that homegrown Sitka spruce is suitable for CLT-engineered structural timber.

    Getting wood into medium-rise building projects and timber frame housing to decarbonise the economy will require dialogue between growers, processors, planners, architects and engineers. There has also been a disconnect between the following Government departments in maximising the role of timber in sustainable living:

  • Climate Communications, Networks and Transport.
  • Education Innovation and Science.
  • Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
  • Agriculture, Food and the Marine
  • Now that Minister of State Pippa Hackett has been appointed, with a voice at cabinet and a brief that extends beyond her own parent department, it may be an opportunity to challenge ministers in these departments to promote wood as a renewable, sustainable material.

    Hackett in charge of forestry

    Pippa Hackett, Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, land use and biodiversity.

    It was confirmed last week, as expected, that Minister Pippa Hackett will add forestry to her existing responsibilities of land use and biodiversity in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

    “I am delighted to have forestry as part of my remit, as I firmly believe that it’s a sector which can deliver even more environmental economic, social and amenity benefits for Irish society in the coming years,” she said after a meeting with Coillte chair Bernie Grey and CEO Imelda Hurley.

    She said she was excited to hear of Coillte’s nature initiative and their collaborations with other bodies such as Bord na Móna.

    “Planting trees is only the beginning of the multi-functional benefits forestry can offer and the downstream benefits must be a key part of our future climate and biodiversity planning,” Hackett said.

    “I am well aware of the current difficulties and will be looking to bring forward some immediate initiatives which can help the sector realise its potential. I look forward to engaging with all stakeholders on these issues as we implement the Programme for Government commitments and it’s important that this implementation is matched by good communication from all with an interest in forestry and woodlands.”

    Proposal to align forestry licensing with planning system

    Before his departure from office, Minister Barry Cowen told last week’s Fianna Fáil parliamentary meeting that he was preparing a memo for Cabinet seeking “to align forestry licensing with the planning system”, which was one of the objectives of the programme for government. He made the commitment against “a backlog of files that has now reached at least 1,800, currently with the Department’s ecology section,” according to a forestry company spokesperson.

    The former Minister’s statement was welcomed by nurseries, forestry companies and sawmills. “The backlog could take two years to clear, as the continuous flow of appeals shows no sign of abating,” the spokesperson said. “For example, in June, only 130 licences were approved for felling, roading and afforestation.”