Marrickville Library by BVN and Taylor Thomson Whitting (TTW) for Inner West Council has taken out the coveted overall award at the 2020 Australian Timber Design Awards (ATDA).
More than 10 kilometres of timber was used to create a warm and welcoming environment at Sydney’s Marrickville Library.
Architects BVN and engineers TTW created a beautifully crafted project that not only delivers an inviting and functional community resource, but also showcases the versatility and sustainability of timber and timber products.
As BVN explained in their entry, the use of timber also references the history of the site which was once used to source timber for construction.
It was important to the community that their library was ‘kind to the planet’. As a result, timber was also used for its sustainable properties, with all either recycled or certified as coming from sustainable sources.
Timber products used in the Library include; Glulam columns, mullions and transoms, plywood, Sculptform™ blackbutt acoustic baffling, Supawood™ Tasmanian oak acoustic panel ceilings, batten balustrading and screens.
ATDA 2020 winner: Marrickville Library by BVN & TTW: Photographer Tom Roe.
Species used include; jarrah, red and white mahogany, spruce, tallowwood, hoop and radiata pine and New Guinea rosewood, all from certified sources.
Timber, used in columns, facade, screening, internal walls, window/door frames, tiered seating, joinery, ceilings and furniture also contributed to Marrickville library’s environmental credentials.
Timber was used in place of aluminium and steel as it has around half the embodied energy of steel and delivers significant carbon dioxide emission savings.
“I would like to congratulate BVN, TTW and all the entrants on their excellent work,” said Eileen Newbury, WoodSolutions Program Manager and National Marketing and Communications Manager for Forest and Wood Products Australia.
Each year the ATDA aims to promote and encourage outstanding timber design. They are open to builders, designers, architects, engineers and landscapers: to anyone involved in the design or building of structures that feature timber.
This year the winners were announced during a virtual ceremony on 2 December. See the virtual award night presentation on YouTube and the full list of winners online at www.timberdesignawards.com.au.
