Shetland Museum and Archives wins Wood Awards
The Shetland Museum and Archives has won the top prize at this year’s Wood Awards, which recognise excellence in architecture and design in wood.
The Museum and Archives was short listed in three categories, and won the commercial and public access category before going through to win the overall Gold Award. Labelled as ‘an excellent building that fits in very well with its surroundings’ the judges praised the use of Siberian larch and English oak. They also commented on the innovative reception desk which was fashioned from the keel of an early 19th century German ship recovered from Hay’s Dock.
The feature they were most impressed by however was the timber clad three storey Boat Hall, the colour and shape of which echo the sails of the herring drifters which were once built in the adjoining boat shed and which wintered, in their hundreds, in and around Hay’s Dock in the last century.
Jimmy Moncrieff, Manager of Shetland Amenity Trust, was thrilled at the news: “The Trust is committed to using sustainable materials in all its projects, and wood is one of the most versatile. The decision to use wood in the Museum and Archives reflects the location and heritage of the site, with its long history of boat building and maritime connections.”