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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
“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.”
The complete list of the winners includes:
Overall Winner
- Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart
Merits
- The People’s Choice – Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd
- Sustainability – Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre by Jackson Clements Burrows
- International Projects – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart
- Rising Star – Sarah Shearman from Brother Nature Design for River House
Excellence in Timber Applications
- Residential Class 1 – New Building – Taroona House by Archier
- Residential Class 1 – Alterations & Additions – Verandah Terraces by Phorm architecture + design
- Fit Out – Residential – Northcote House by LLDS and Power to Make
- Standalone Structure – Fernery at Ballarat Botanic Gardens by BALANCE Architecture Interior Design
- Commercial Building – T3 Collingwood by Hines, AECOM, JCB and Icon
- Public Building – Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd
- Fit Out – Commercial and Public – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart
- Furniture & Joinery – Holocene House by CplusC Architects + Builders
Excellence in Timber Products
- Australian Certified Timber – Irrawaddy by Incidental Architecture
- Recycled Timber – First Steps Count Child and Community Centre by Austin McFarland Architects
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.