Innovative forest walkway using tree forks wins Bespoke Award at 2025 Wood Awards

A Forest Datum, an experimental raised walkway constructed at Hooke Park by students of the Design + Make Postgraduate Programme, has won the Bespoke Award at the 2025 Wood Awards.

A Forest Datum by Design + Make Architectural Association. Photo © Design + Make Architectural Association

The project showcases a groundbreaking structural system that harnesses the strength of natural-growth timber forks, locally sourced from routine forest pruning. Typically dismissed as waste due to their small size, these beech branches offer significant structural strength thanks to their natural geometry. A Forest Datum demonstrates how this undervalued material can be elevated into an innovative architectural component.

To create the datum, each fork undergoes a series of processing stages – de-barking, seasoning, cutting and pine-tar treatment – before being standardised using a bespoke, low-tech jig. This jig encodes the cell geometry and guides precise cutting, transforming each irregular branch into a repeatable building element.

The resulting components are assembled without mechanical fixings: the geometry of the forks locks each piece into place within a durable frame of dimensioned cedar boards and battens. The structure is then pre-tensioned using Dyneema cables, placing the beech elements into compression and creating a robust, lightweight platform.

By using timber pruned from the forest canopy – a practice that supports long-term forest health – the project links material innovation with responsible woodland stewardship, proposing a new role for technology in utilising overlooked natural forms.

Beyond the walkway at Hooke Park, the system’s logic offers broad potential applications, from bespoke furniture to architectural floor, roof, or wall assemblies.

“This system is innovative in its use of raw materials and pioneering in its approach,” said Sebastian Cox, lead judge of the Furniture & Object panel.

“Constructed to take advantage of the inherent strength of tree forks, the walkway structure is both exciting and cleverly realised, creating a wonderful experience for visitors as they move through the forest canopy.

“Adding to the legacy of contemporary woodwork experimentation at Hooke Park, this piece provides valuable research into the structural use of natural timbers, with real potential for public spaces.”

The Wood Awards Furniture & Objects judges – a panel of world-leading professionals – viewed all shortlisted pieces in person before selecting the winners, making this one of the UK’s most rigorous design competitions.

Led by designer-maker Sebastian Cox RDI, the panel includes Caroline Till, co-founder of FranklinTill; Hugo Macdonald, critic and curator; Sophie Sellu, founder of Grain & Knot; Johanna Agerman Ross, Conran Foundation Chief Curator at the Design Museum; and Henry Tadros, Chairman at Ercol.

Other category winners included:

• Levity Collection by Meon by Gaze Burvill with Katie Walker Furniture – Production Award

• The Growth Project by Darren Appiagyei and Red Knot by Laura Welsh – co-winners, Sculpted Object

• Her Captain’s Chair by Lily Hitchcock Design – Student Award

  
  

This year’s winning timber building was Urban Nature Project, Natural History Museum by Feilden Fowles.

For more information on all 2025 Wood Award winners, visit www.woodawards.com.