The Embassy of Australia in Washington, D.C., takes home the Grand Prix at the 2024 Australian Timber Design Awards
The 2024 Australian Timber Design Awards were recently held at View by Sydney in Walsh Bay, celebrating the best in timber architecture. Hosted by Professor Greg Nolan from the University of Tasmania, the event brought together top industry professionals to recognise outstanding projects in sustainable timber design.
Embassy of Australia, Washington DC – Bates Smart, Photographer: Joe Fletcher
The night’s highlight was the Grand Prix Award, presented to Bates Smart for their exceptional work on the Embassy of Australia in Washington, D.C. This project stood out for its intricate balance between cultural representation, civic prominence, and security requirements, all while embodying Australia’s natural landscape and values.
The Embassy’s design celebrates Australia’s vast, open landscapes. The transparent elements of the building symbolise the country’s openness and trust, while the use of Australian timber throughout the interior brings a natural warmth that reflects the nation’s deep connection to its environment. The centrepiece is a grand atrium that connects the building’s north and south wings, offering visitors an immersive experience of the space.
The timber wall panels, which provide both acoustic insulation and air circulation, draw inspiration from the protective bark of Australia’s eucalypt forests. Bates Smart’s innovative use of timber in the Embassy not only elevates the aesthetic but also speaks to the sustainability of the material, cementing the project’s place as a model of excellence in modern architecture.
Embassy of Australia, Washington DC – Bates Smart, Photographer: Joe Fletcher
Steve Jones, Bates Smart’s Studio Director, accepted the top prize on behalf of the firm, noting the historical significance of the project:
“This new embassy comes half a century after our studio designed Australia’s original Washington embassy, and we are proud to have created a building that not only represents Australia on the global stage but also celebrates the beauty and sustainability of our native timbers.”
Steve Jones, Bates Smart’s Studio Director, accepts the 2024 Australian Timber Design Award
The embassy’s design features Blackbutt timber prominently, chosen for its versatility, durability, and historical significance in Australian native forests, where it has been used and propagated through controlled burning for generations. The timber is used throughout the structure to evoke a sense of openness and warmth, blending seamlessly with the surrounding materials to create a functional and symbolic building.
Certification Spotlight
The following Responsible Wood certified fabricators supplied timber to this project:
Briggs Veneers – certification details here.
Matilda Veneer – certification details here.
The 2024 Australian Timber Design Awards highlighted the growing importance of sustainable materials in architecture, with a focus on projects that demonstrate the immense potential of certified timber.
The night’s award winners are listed below:
Merits
- People’s Choice – Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW)
- Sustainability – Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre by Jackson Clements Burrows
- International Project – 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: Alteration or Addition – 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)
- 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
