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From the Halls of Power: Embassy Takes Aussie Hardwoods to World!

The Bates Smart designed Australian Embassy building in Washington DC has secured the Australian Timber Design Awards Grand Prize.


Wed 23 Oct 24

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From Sydney, Australia, to Washington, D.C., one of the world’s most beautiful embassy buildings has been crowned the 2024 Australian Timber Design Awards winner—a project that taps into the country’s native hardwoods – amongst the most beautiful in the world – to celebrate Australia as a future-focused country that is grounded, welcoming and open.

Announced before a packed audience at The View, a restored 19th-century hardwood workers shed on the banks of iconic Sydney Harbour, Bates Smart—one of Australia’s oldest architectural practices—was awarded the coveted Grand Prix prize for Australia’s new Washington embassy—completing a hat trick that also included the International Project and Fitout—Commercial and Public Buildings categories.

Australia's new Washington DC embassy was designed by Bates Smart - one of Australia's oldest and renowned architectural practices. The new building, which opened earlier this year, came 50 years after the studio designed Australia's first Washington DC embassy in the 1970's. (Photo Credit: Joe Fletcher)
Australia’s new Washington DC embassy was designed by Bates Smart – one of Australia’s oldest and renowned architectural practices. The new building, which opened earlier this year, came 50 years after the studio designed Australia’s first Washington DC embassy in the 1970’s. (Photo Credit: Joe Fletcher)

Pairing blackbutt timbers (Eucalyptus pilularis)—grown extensively in Queensland and New South Wales—with polished concrete, bronze, steel, and glass, the quintessentially Australian timbers were chosen due to their economic importance, versatility, and celebrated history of propagating Australian native forests through burning.

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The Embassy recognises Indigenous Australian culture, the oldest continuously surviving civilisation on the face of the Earth. (Photo Credit: Joe Fletcher)

Working with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and a range of designers, including, but not limited to, Adam Goodrum, Simon Ancher, Ross Gardam, Alexander Lotersztain, and Tom Skeehan, the 20,000-square-metre building featured a boardroom table custom-designed using reclaimed timbers responsibly sourced (and certified to meet Responsible Wood and PEFC standards under the Wood Connect scheme) from one of the world’s oldest underwater forest operations.

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Working in collaboration with the Design Institute of Australia, the Embassy fitted out the interiors with a collection of the country’s finest designers and furniture makers. (Photo Credit: Joe Fletcher)

“The timber’s fine, even grain, coupled with its straight cylindrical growth, made it a stunning material to work with.”

Bates Smart on the use of native Australian timbers in the new Embassy of Australia in Washington DC

“The singularity of expression of the interior is welcoming, enveloping and warm,” said Mark Healey, Bates Smart Director of Interiors, who said the panel detail mimics the various textures of the blackbutt tree found in nature. Thick, wide panels interspersed with finer rebated sections absorb sound and deliver fresh air to the lower sections, becoming smoother, finer and narrower as they rise into the rectangular oculus.

From above, the light from the roof plays off against the blackbutt featured extensively throughout the 20,000-square-metre building. “These horizontal bands are an expression of the protective base of the tree and its relationship to fire,” according to Mr Healey, in a recent interview with InDesign Live, who said the doors themselves have been blackened to give the impression of torched timber and thereby offers a further visual key to Indigenous methods of propagation.

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Steve Jones accepted the award for the project on behalf of Bates Smart.

According to Steve Jones, Bates Smart’s Studio Director – who accepted the top prize from WoodSolutions Kevin Peachey on behalf of the studio, the new Embassy comes half a century after the 171-year-old studio designed Australia’s original Washington embassy.

More exposed timber and more interior spaces using timber…

In total, 15 prizes were awarded – now in its 25th year – with Rebecca Gidding – Planet Ark’s CEO; Anthony Burke – host of Restoration Australia and Grand Designs Australia; Lisa Barbara – ex Interiors Lead at Fitzpatrick + Partners and current Cult ESG Manager; Michelle Di Giorgio – former Design Manager at Gensler and current member of the MPA pre-construction team; and Dr Ali Hadigheh, Associate Head of Research Education and Senior Lecturer at Sydney University judging the entries.

Hear from the Australian Timber Design Award judges. Footage courtesy of @WoodCentral

“The Embassy is an incredible project and a deserved winner,” said Andrew Dunn, the long-time organiser of the awards, “the diversity of submissions was captivating, from projects that dazzled with their artistic flair to those that stood out for their pragmatic solutions.”

Of the winning projects, six were from New South Wales, four were from Victoria, and three were from the USA (all tied to the Embassy), with single winners in Queensland and Tasmania. On this year’s cohort, Mr Dunn said:

“We saw a significant and exciting rise in the use of exposed timber, with more interior spaces embracing the raw beauty of natural wood to deepen the connection between people and their surroundings.”

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Professor Greg Nolan – one of Australia’s foremost architectural professors with a focus on timber in construction- was the MC and host of this year’s Timber Design Awards.

The complete list of the winners includes:

Overall Winner
  • Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart
2024 Timber Design Awards
Steve Jones, Bate Smart’s Studio Director, accepting the Australian Timber Design Awards Grand Prix from Kevin Peachey, Head of the Wood Solutions programme.
Merits
  • The People’s Choice – Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 118
  • Sustainability – Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre by Jackson Clements Burrows
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 111
  • International Projects – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 115
  • Rising Star – Sarah Shearman from Brother Nature Design for River House
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 108
Excellence in Timber Applications
  • Residential Class 1 – New Building – Taroona House by Archier
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  • Residential Class 1 – Alterations & Additions – Verandah Terraces by Phorm architecture + design
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 066 1 1
  • Fit Out – Residential – Northcote House by LLDS and Power to Make
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 069
  • Standalone Structure – Fernery at Ballarat Botanic Gardens by BALANCE Architecture Interior Design
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 071
  • Commercial Building – T3 Collingwood by Hines, AECOM, JCB and Icon
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 083
  • Public Building – Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 089
  • Fit Out – Commercial and Public – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 075
  • Furniture & Joinery – Holocene House by CplusC Architects + Builders
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 077
Excellence in Timber Products
  • Australian Certified Timber – Irrawaddy by Incidental Architecture
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 098
  • Recycled Timber – First Steps Count Child and Community Centre by Austin McFarland Architects
20241016 Timber Design Awards web 102
Roving Photos from Australian Timber’s Night and Nights!

Please Note: Wood Central will have an exclusive interview with the architects behind the Embassy in the coming days.

Author

  • Jason Ross

    Jason Ross, publisher, is a 15-year professional in building and construction, connecting with more than 400 specifiers. A Gottstein Fellowship recipient, he is passionate about growing the market for wood-based information. Jason is Wood Central's in-house emcee and is available for corporate host and MC services.

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