PRESENTATION – INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR WOOD ARCHITECTURE
The International Award for Wood Architecture awarded by the international press is an annual award which aims to reward the achievement of excellence carried out in the wood architecture industry. The award wishes to stimulate the development of innovative architectural thinking using wood, whilst establishing links between countries where wood construction will play an increasingly important role.
The award supports globally emerging architecture and wishes to act for the longevity of a press specialized in wood architecture throughout the world. Its aim is international, in terms of reputation and acknowledgement of magazines related to wood architecture.
The aim of the award is to create or reinforce exchanges between these magazines in a constant search for information and to offer a possibility of judgment and expression to those who deal daily with the promotion of wood architecture, regardless of industrial, economic or advertising interest.
Awarded by common agreement by the participating magazines, the award honours wood architectural design while underlining the quality of dialogue between its different actors. The ceremony nominates the laureate each year during the International Wood Construction Forum in France with an international perspective to promote wood architecture.
2025 EDITION
7th edition – 2025 International Award for Wood Architecture
2025 edition – shortlisted projects
15 projects were submitted (3 per participating magazine). The three projects following: a housing in Hard, a temporary gymnasium for Freudenberg and Enge and a pedestrian bridge in Bulle were presented by the Swiss magazine Lignum.
Mikado, representing Germany submitted the Weleda logistics campus in Schwäbisch Gmünd, the Hainburg town hall and the Langenhagen school complex.
The Katajanokan Laituri office and hotel complex in Helsinki, the Maatulli school complex in Helsinki and the Hyytiälä forestry research station at the University of Helsinki formed the 3 projects presented by the Finnish magazine PUU Info.
France, with Séquences Bois, chose to submit the Olympic Aquatic Centre in St Denis, the Pavillons Jardin offices in the Parc de la Villette in Paris and the Périchaux childcare centre in Paris.
Lastly, Trä! submitted for Sweden the World of Volvo museum in Gothenburg, a gymnasium and swimming pool in Göteborg and the conversion of a factory into offices in Malmö.
2025 edition winner
Located in the historic harbour district of Helsinki, the Katajanokan Laituri project won the 7th edition of the International Award for Wood Architecture as Best Wooden Project of 2025 during the ceremony held at the International Wood Construction Forum, in Grand Palais Paris, on Thursday, 27 February, 2025.
This four-storey building developed by Varma features a rooftop terrace, offices, conference facilities and the Solo Sokos Pier 4 hotel as well as Stora Enso’s head office. Katajanokan Laituri has become the largest solid wood building in Finland, thanks to its 7,600 m³ solid wood structure.
Right from the design stage, the aim of the project was to ensure the lowest possible impact on the environment throughout its life cycle, by extending its operating life as far as possible, enabling a wide range of conversions and uses, and being both low-carbon and energy-efficient.
The use of LVL and CLT resulted in a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during the construction phase, compared with a ‘conventional’ concrete building – a true model of sustainable construction.
PREVIOUS EDITION
6th edition – 2024 International Award for Wood Architecture
Trailer 2024 International Award for Wood Architecture
5th edition – 2023 International Award for Wood Architecture
Trailer 2023 International Award for Wood Architecture
4th edition – 2022 International Award for Wood Architecture
3rd edition – 2021 International Award for Wood Architecture
Trailer 2021 International Award for Wood Architecture
2nd edition – 2019 International Award for Wood Architecture
Trailer 2019 International Award for Wood Architecture
1st edition – 2018 International Award for Wood Architecture
SWEDEN
Trä!
As one of the Nordic region’s biggest architecture magazine, Trä! is aimed at architects, structural engineers and building contractors. We write from a global perspective about architecture, design, innovations, smart solutions and trendsetting individuals. Four issues of Trä! are published each year.
SWITZERLAND
Lignum
Since 1979, the “Bulletin bois” in French or “Holzbulletin” in German by Lignum is published four times a year. Each edition deals with a particular theme and presents exceptional innovative achievements, with plans, sketches and illustrations.
The choice of the selected objects reflects the actuality, thanks to regular exchanges with the offices of architects and engineers. Innovative construction methods, new building materials and interior designs are discussed, so as the latest trends in wood construction and wood use. Lignum is a global organization of Swiss forestry and timber associations.
GERMANY
Mikado
„mikado – Magazine for Entrepreneurs in Timberconstruction” is an international professional magazine and the official mouthpiece of Germany’s carpenter-association “Holzbau Deutschland”. mikado delivers information in a balanced, practice-oriented, innovative and hands-on manner. This is why it has become Germany’s leading magazine for decisionmakers in carpentries and timber-constructive companies. Among the readers are architects, civil engineers, manufacturers and traders for buildingmaterials, representants for associations, guilds and training centres. The editorial staff focuses on a reliable, practice-oriented coverage.
FINLAND
PUU Info
Wood magazine (Puulehti) presents Finnish wood architecture and construction. It promotes the correct and high-level use of wood products in construction and interior design. The magazine is published three times a year and has a history dating back 38 years. Wood Magazine is published by Finnish Timber Council called Puuinfo ltd.
FRANCE
Séquences Bois
Séquences Bois is a French wood architecture magazine, published five times a year, recognized by all professionals in the construction industry. This magazine aims to show the excellence of wood materials by highlighting French and European exemplary constructions with themes specific to each issue. In each of them, six constructions are presented, including a project valued for its technical details, and another for the singularity of its implementation. The magazine also includes a thematic guide, echoing the subject of the issue, consisting of a selection of wood products presented as technical sheets. Séquences Bois also disseminates informations about the industry, book publications and events related to wood.