George Fereday's HomeGrownCabin project is a finalist in the 2022 Structural Timber Awards in the 'Pioneer' category.
Date: 22 July 2022
Associate teaching professor at the School of Art, Architecture and Design, George Fereday, has seen his sustainable construction initiative, the HomeGrownCabin project shortlisted for the 2022 Structural Timber Awards. In partnership with FC Innovation, Birling Estate, and Mule Studios, the principle aim of the project is to explore innovations in using sweet chestnut and ash wood to make construction components and structures that can be up-scaled.
The annual Structural Timber Awards feature examples of what can be achieved using the most natural and sustainable of materials, and aim to celebrate architectural achievements and engineering ingenuity in timber construction. The awards celebrate not only outstanding projects and inspiring individuals, but the coming together of an industry.
The timber materials used in the modular cabin concept are under-utilised in construction and yet widely available in the south east of England. Ash is available in abundance and this project has sought to divert this valuable timber from the firewood market and into a higher value usage in construction.
Sustainability and local timber sourcing are paramount to the HomeGrownCabin team, who are at the forefront of the British timber industry. As such, they have been nominated in the ‘Pioneer’ category of the awards.
George Fereday took to social media to express his pride in the recognition the project is receiving. “I am very pleased to say our #HomeGrownCabin research project is a finalist in the Structural Timber Awards 2022.”
He also commended his fellow nominees and the team who collaborated on the project. “Congratulations to the other #STAawards22 finalists and thanks to project collaborators Dougal Driver, Rachel Lawrence at GROWN IN BRITAIN LTD, Harri Lewis & Jack Munro at Mule Studio, Guy Nevill of the Birling Estate, Nick Meech, David Leviatin, Rick Duce.”
The prestigious awards ceremony will be held on 12 October later this year, at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham.
The project was funded by the Forestry Commission, London Metropolitan University and GROWN IN BRITAIN LTD.
