Timber Design competition winners announced
Charlie Bradley-Tasser, Tamara Birtasevic, Ruiyan Li and Dr Lisa Ottenhaus with Kevin Peachy – Head of WoodSolutions and Andrew Leighton – CEO of FWPA and team members. (Photo Credit: Supplied by Wood Central / Image Consult, the host photographer and videographer for WCTE)
The 2025 World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE) concluded 25 June with a spirited celebration of innovation, sustainability, and student ingenuity. WoodSolutions was proud to announce the winners of the Australian Timber Design Competition (ATDC) at the event gala dinner.
This year’s competition brief invited students across Australia to design adaptable timber housing for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Village. Under the theme “designing for legacy”, participants were asked to imagine dwellings that could serve athletes during the games and evolve into enduring, liveable neighbourhoods in the years to follow.
“The competition provided an opportunity for students to showcase their ability to solve real-world sustainability challenges,” says Kevin Peachey, Head of Built Environment Programs at Forest & Wood Products Australia. “We’re excited to see this level of creativity on a global stage and at WoodSolutions, we’re proud to foster upcoming talent and help secure the future of timber design and construction.”
Following a competitive shortlisting and review process, Team 3 was announced as the winning entry for their adaptable, sensitive, and sustainable project proposal. Judges commended the team’s thorough and thoughtful approach to both design and delivery, noting the high level of collaboration and structural resolution. "[There's] lots of detail there which we scored excellent for that balance of cultural, structural, and environmental considerations" said one of the jurors.
Congratulations to the winning team members: Charlie Bradley-Tasser, Tamara Birtasevic and Ruiyan Li.
The 2025 judging panel comprised a cross-section of design and build industry experts spanning urban planning, architecture, engineering, and timber processing and supply. Their expertise, thoughtful feedback, and generous time helped shape this competition into a valuable learning experience for all involved.
The judges were impressed by the depth and quality of submissions across the board, especially given the tight timeframes. The competition not only showcased the capability of Australia's emerging design talent but also highlighted the evolving role of timber as a climate-conscious, culturally adaptive material.
The ATDC was part of a broader WCTE 2025 program, which welcomed close to 1,000 delegates from around the world, including architects, engineers, researchers, builders, and product innovators. This year marked the first time the global conference was held in Australia since 1994.