The annual Timber Frame Builders Association awards presentations, held to coincide with the TFBA's recent AGM in Johannesburg, was a resoundingly successful evening, attended by delegates from far and wide.
As is now customary, there are various categories: decks and boardwalks, alterations and additions, structures smaller than 120 m2, structures larger than 120 m2, structures larger than 220 m2 and commercial buildings/hotels.
The judging panel was headed up this year by Mike Allum (past President and honorary member of the TFBA) and included Lewis Silberbauer and John Mortimer.

Thirteen entries were received from the four corners of the country and it was entirely clear from the standard that the timber frame building industry is alive and well, but it was also notable that, due to the economic climate there were more entries in the alterations and additions categories than in new structures.
In total, there were four bronze, eight silver and four gold awards across the various categories. The full list appears at the end of this text. Firstly however, it makes interesting reading to review the history of the awards in brief, as supplied by the inestimable Jenny de Waal.

This is in fact 15th year of the Building Awards and the objectives, then and now, were recognition of the timber frame builder, encouragement for new members to enter projects and become more involved, enlightenment for the public as to the craftsmanship within timber frame homes/buildings/decks and boardwalks and promotion of high standards of construction within the TFBA as well as encouraging healthy competition among members.
The composition of the categories has changed slightly over the years. Initially there were: alterations and additions, structures larger than 120 m2 and structures smaller than 120 m2. Subsequently the other categories were added.
"The number of entries differs from to year Jenny explains. Also, she points out, should a builder receive an award the designer/architect receives a parallel award in recognition of the fact that the contractor and the designer work hand-in-hand on a given project. "Clearly the awards will go from strength to strength in the future."

The awards

DECKS AND BOARDWALKS

1a. Hayescraft
BRONZE
House Olyfberg

1a. Jason Hayes
BRONZE
2009

THE DESIGN OF HOUSE OLYFBERG

2a. Town & Country Projects

GOLD
Canal Walk, Cape Town

2a. Town & Country Projects
GOLD
The Planning Partners

THE DESIGN CRYSTAL TOWERS CANAL WALK, CAPE

ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS

3a. Witchrooms
BRONZE
House Nussey

3a. Ursela Wiese
BRONZE

THE DESIGN OF HOUSE NUSSEY

4a. Logo Homes
SILVER
House Dresner

4a. Alan Paine Designs
SILVER

THE DESIGN OF HOUSE DRESNER

5a. Actfast Timber Homes

SILVER
House Coffee

5a. Attie Mussman & Associates
SILVER

THE DESIGN OF HOUSE COFFEE

STRUCTURES SMALLER THAN 120 m2

6a. Keith Rudd
SILVER
House Mbekweni

6a. WJA Architects
SILVER

THE DESIGN OF HOUSE MBEWKENI

STRUCTURES LARGER THAN 120 m2

7a. Timber Frame Technology
SILVER
House Grimm

7a. Gitta Trading/ Rene van der Linde
SILVER

THE DESIGN OF HOUSE GRIMM

8a. Logo Homes
GOLD
House Gotlieb

8a. Alan Paine Designs
GOLD
THE DESIGN OF HOUSE GOTLIEB