‘Conversations about Climate Change’ Design Competition

The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has launched ‘Conversations about Climate Change’ a specially commissioned design competition, exhibition and event series providing a platform for urgent climate debates.

The initiative falls under the Timber Trade Federation’s Forest ( FLEGT) project work. FLEGT is the EU’s Action Plan to combat illegal logging, subsequent trade and deforestation, and instead introduce forest monitoring, auditing, multi-stakeholder dialogue and engagement with local communities. This landmark shift in governance and procurement means FLEGT licensed timber is a safe, legal and sustainable form of timber.

In collaboration with the Building Centre, ‘Conversations about Climate Change’ will showcase winning designs in tropical timbers from sustainable sources to demonstrate the importance of this natural resource.

The Challenge

‘Conversations about Climate Change’ sets architects, designers and craftspeople the challenge of creating ‘conversation pieces’ from sustainably sourced tropical timber.

The TTF is looking for entrants to respond to this material and to consider how their role as a specifier is vital for implementing change. The ‘conversation pieces’ could be furniture, sculpture, a model or functional design object – anything, as long as it stimulates a conversation about material provenance and its place in the climate debate, drawing inspiration from the palette of tropical hardwood species selected.

The Competition

Six winners will be chosen by an expert judging panel to be fabricated for the show. All winners will be provided with sustainably sourced FLEGT tropical hardwood and a £1,000 maker’s bursary.

All entrants will have their designs exhibited in an online gallery and a shortlist will be displayed in the exhibition at the Building Centre in London in November, timed to mark the original date of COP26 and highlighting the vital role for tropical forests in the climate debate.

The competition closes 24th August 2020 and the six winners will be announced at the beginning of September.

For further details visit www.buildingcentre.co.uk/climateconversations