The supreme winner of the 2007 Australian Timber Design Awards announced at the end of November was a set of innovative building forms conceived as carved logs.

This ‘magical’ extension, featuring what is believed to be a unique method of construction, was judged the best private house in the 2007 UK Wood Awards announced in October.

Perhaps the most eye-catching finalist in the 2007 Australian Timber Design Awards was a residence in Geelong created for ‘deep green’ clients demanding the highest level of sustainability, including maximum use of low-maintenance timber.

Outright winner of the 2007 British Wood Awards was a swimming pool in England described as “modernist, without fuss or grand gestures – one of those rare buildings which has clear and logical design”.

High above the south-east coast of Queensland, smack in the middle of an extreme bush-fire zone, ‘floats’ a unique new timber home built by a skilled craftsman for a client with a passion for design.

The precedence of place, culture and experience is a key source of inspiration and assurance for architects, engineers and other building designers.

He is Malaysian, outspoken and likes simply to be known as Azman. He is also an architect, a crusader against consumerism and worried about integrity and standards in his local design and build industry.