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Design awards attract nation-wide interest

The use of wood veneers is again expected to be prominent in the 2008 Australian Timber Design Awards. Entries for the prestigious awards close on 29 August, with winners to be announced on 29 November.

Last year’s winner of the interior fit-out category, sponsored by the Decorative Wood Veneer Association, was a fit-out designed for a major firm of lawyers in the Sydney CBD. The project made extensive use of rift oak veneer, with custom-designed furniture made from ash and birch plywood.

Tobias Partners, a Sydney-based architecture and interior design practice, was responsible for the fit-out in collaboration with Davenport Campbell.

“The use of veneer allowed us to create spaces seemingly carved out of blocks of timber. That is the beauty of veneers – despite their actual thickness, when employed correctly nothing is lost of the timber’s original solidity, a wonderful thing to be able to achieve so sustainably,” said Jason Gibney, associate director of Tobias Partners.

Designers wishing to enter the 2008 awards can download an entry form from www.timber.net.au/awards, or request a copy from the DWVA’s technical representative on 1300 303 982.