Estonian timber supplier Thermory has announced the winners of its annual wooden architecture design awards, recognizing projects that showcase the most inspiring uses of thermally modified wood products. This year's competition drew 74 submissions from 21 countries worldwide, with winners selected across four categories: best public building, best private house, best interior, and best sauna and spa.
The award for best public building went to Võsu Primary School and Kindergarten, located in Estonia's Lahemaa National Park. Designed by Estonian studio 31 Architects, the educational facility features a low-slung barn-style structure clad with a mixture of different Thermory products and surface treatments, in addition to CLT (cross-laminated timber) used during construction. The jury praised the architects for their application of brushed cladding and oiled wooden elements, which contributed to the depth and warmth of the school's minimalist form.
"It's wonderful that children can experience such a warm, inviting atmosphere in a school," the judges noted, highlighting how the architecture studio used contemporary timber design to reinterpret local building traditions. The project demonstrates how modern educational facilities can maintain a connection to regional architectural heritage while providing functional learning spaces.
Summer Villa in Haapsalu claimed the prize for best private house. Located within Haapsalu's historic wooden district on Estonia's west coast, the seafront home was designed by Estonian studio Apex Arhitektuuribüroo OÜ. The residence features a distinctive silvery facade clad with thermo-ash shingles and radiata pine panels produced by Thermory, complemented by floor-to-ceiling glazing and sliding shutters.
The jury particularly noted the studio's application of "lace-like timber," which pays homage to Estonian architectural heritage and honors local wood traditions. According to the judges, Summer Villa demonstrates "the right level of crazy" in its craftsmanship, blending harmoniously with its coastal setting "but not in a predictable way." The project successfully balances innovation with respect for traditional Estonian wooden architecture.
Jõelähtme Juveel, a home located by a golf course in Estonia, won the best interior design award. The project was developed by window manufacturer Lasita Perfecting Views, with interior design by Tallinn-based architect Annika Valkna. The design team drew inspiration from wabi-sabi, the Japanese design philosophy that celebrates imperfection and impermanence.
The interior features Thermory thermo-ash walls paired with light CLT surfaces and subtly limewashed ceilings, creating what the jury described as an "exquisite use of wood like elegant clothing." The judges praised the home's various hidden doors and refined joints, as well as the decision to insert Thermory thermo-pine ceilings in the bathroom and on the building's exterior canopy, which sensitively "blurs boundaries between inside and out."
The Baltimore Ravens' Under Armour Performance Centre in Baltimore took home the award for best sauna and spa. Designed by American studio ZGF Architects, the facility features a custom Thermory thermo-magnolia ceiling throughout the center, with the same material used to clad the dedicated sauna area. Natural light filters through a bespoke skylight in the hydrotherapy suite, creating an atmosphere the jury described as "immersive and sensory."
"You can almost feel the water and scent of wood," the judges commented about the spa facility. The project was completed in July as part of a wider renovation project by ZGF Architects, demonstrating how thermally modified wood can enhance wellness and recovery spaces for professional athletes.
The 2025 jury panel included Italian architect Alberto Salvadori of Quiet Architecture, Estonian architects Karl Kiisel of DOKK Architects and Sander Aas of studio Arhitekt 11, along with Thermory representatives Katrin Reinaste-Parve and Hannes Tarn. The diverse panel brought international perspectives to evaluating innovative uses of thermally modified wood in contemporary architecture.
"The Thermory Design Awards celebrate the versatility, sustainability, and enduring beauty of wood in architecture and design," the timber supplier stated. "Each project reflects how thermally modified wood can shape spaces that are both innovative and human – designed to last for generations, while staying in harmony with nature." The awards highlight the growing global recognition of thermally modified wood as a sustainable building material that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern architectural innovation.
