Timber wins at ITC Awards
A prominent highlight on the local timber construction calendar, The Annual Timber Engineered Product Awards, hosted by the Institute for Timber Construction (ITC-SA) at Nasrec Expo Centre in August, showcased and rewarded top class workmanship in the fields of decking, timber frame construction and roofing.
As part of the ITC-SA’s ongoing mandate to establish and maintain the highest standards in the timber construction industry in South Africa, the Awards are hosted every year in an effort to bring players in the timber construction industry together and to pay homage to members’ outstanding work of the previous year.
ITC-SA Annual Timber Engineered Product Awards for 2015 winners
Four entries were received in the Alterations & Additions category, which ranged from economical extensions to full-scale remodelling. The Structures Smaller than 120 m2 category saw four entries, varying from a ‘granny flat’ to a beautiful starter home, all of which clearly demonstrated a high standard of skills and finishes.
Decks & Boardwalks
Flywheel & Suspended Bridge
Gold:
Project name: Flywheel & Suspended Bridge
Designed by: Planning Partners
Built by: Town & Country Projects
This impressive commercial series of decks and bridges at an upmarket business and conference centre demonstrated the ability of the contractor to elegantly manage the interface of timber and bespoke steel.
Gold:
Project name: Bridge Thompson
Designed by: Cottage Concepts
Built by: Cottage Concepts
Bridge Thompson, an unusual miniature wooden bridge structure for a model steam train enthusiast presented a number of challenges to achieve an attractive and true-to-scale end product.
Alterations & Additions
Gold:
Project name: House Hirschon
Designed by: Kotlowitz Marais Architects
Built by: Timbercraft
This complex project required the modernisation and enlargement of an existing ground and first floor home, creating a second-floor, two-bedroom flatlet, which was seamlessly executed by Timbercraft.
Structures Smaller than 120 m2
Gold:
Project name: House Puttick
Designed by: Cecilia Fraser Architects
Built by: Timber Home Kits
Clinging to the slope of a mountain, 42m2 House Puttick is a stunning example of the contractor’s ability and the advantages of timber frame construction.
Structures Larger than 120 m2
Gold:
Project name: House Riddell
Designed by: Jacques Cronje Timber Design
Built by: Henton Homes
House Riddell’s remote location required diligent planning to avoid possible down time. The building had to be repositioned, due to its proximity to a Milkwood tree, but even so, the project was completed within six months.
Structures Larger than 220 m2
Gold:
Project name: House du Preez
Designed by: Eugene Barnard Architects
Built by: Eco Log Homes
House du Preez, a post-and-beam structure, is on a game farm with no on-site accommodation, which made for strict working hours that challenged the Eco Log Homes team to achieve this magnificent bush getaway. The project’s attention to detail and interesting architectural features impressed the judges.
Roofing: Residential, Commercial & Exposed Trusses
Reddford House, Northcliff
Gold:
Project name: Reddford House, Northcliff
Designed by: Century Property Developments
Roofing structure: LCP Roofing
A turnkey project where close cooperation with the design team ensured that the client brief was met. This has resulted in state-of-the art exposed structural roofing elements being used as features to enhance the buildings’ ambience.
House Viking Trust
Gold:
Project name: House Viking Trust
Designed by: Klaus Körber
Roofing structure: Pitch 45 Roofing
This extensive renovation required neat, accurate carpentry to produce, erect and brace this complex exposed roof structure, which pays homage to the beauty of design symmetry.
Vergelegen Shopping Centre
Gold:
Project name: Vergelegen Shopping Centre
Designed by: Barry Slavin of Slavin & Associates
Roof trusses manufactured by: Rooftek Trusses
The harmony of design, construction detailing and robust appearance of this shopping centre roof will have many a shopper looking upwards. Its rugged beauty and symmetry illustrate the contractor’s ability to evoke the past by recreating the forms and shapes of yesteryear.
The project’s overall compliance with SANS10400: Energy Efficiency in Buildings must be demonstrated with reference to the following:
· Building design, e.g., orientation and ventilation
· Building elements, e.g., foundations, wall insulation, ceiling, roof, double glazing on windows
· Building products, e.g., R-values of products and geographical sourcing
· Electro/mechanical installations, e.g., air-conditioning, water heating, general appliances, solar panels and wind turbines.
Judging
All entries are assessed for technically correct construction according to national building regulations as they apply to timber frame building and roofing. Judges look for aesthetic flair, good design, creativity and the project’s compatibility with – and consideration for – its environment. Structural correctness, workmanship and materials as well as the detail, skill, quality and level of craftsmanship that go into the finishes are essential considerations for the judges, as are value-added external structures and features, such as verandas, decking, stairways, paths and driveways, to name a few.
The ITC-SA Annual Timber Engineered Product Awards judging panel for the 2015 Awards included: Jacques Cronje, timber home and furniture designer, and ITC-SA Professional Member; Mike Allum, past president of the Timber Frame Builders Association (TFBA), retired timber frame builder and ITC-SA Honorary Member; Graham Retief, Honorary Member of the ITC-SA, independent project consultant and SANS10082 working group contributor; Eljo Balaam, Saint Gobain Specification Consultant; Roly Adams, ITC-SA Board Member and Corporate Executive at MiTek Industries SA; and Errol Hobden, Systems Engineer at International Truss Systems.