Celebrating award-winning oak craftsmanship

We’re delighted to share that our ‘House in the Surrey Hills’ Project – a contemporary oak frame extension, has been shortlisted for the Wood Awards 2026.

Created in collaboration with Sanchez Benton Architects and Richard Coles Building Company, the project brings together contemporary architecture, traditional green oak craftsmanship and natural materials to create a home intrinsically connected to its Surrey Hills setting.

For Green Oak Carpentry, the recognition feels particularly special in our 30th year. Having previously won three prestigious Gold Wood Awards, being shortlisted once again celebrates something that has remained at the heart of our work for three decades – exceptional timber craftsmanship.

A new chapter for a Surrey Hills Home

The project began with the replacement of a fire-damaged 1960s extension to an existing country house.

Set high on a south-facing hillside, the new design responds to the natural contours of the site, creating spaces that open directly onto the garden while framing expansive views across the surrounding Surrey Hills landscape.

Working closely with the architect and builder, our team designed, handcrafted and installed the green oak structural frame that forms the architectural heart of the oak frame extension.

Substantial exposed oak timbers and expansive glazing create a strong connection between house and landscape, while bringing warmth, character and a sense of permanence to the contemporary design.

Celebrating natural materials and traditional craft

Freshly sawn English oak sits at the heart of the project, alongside Wealden clay brick and a carefully considered palette of natural materials.

Throughout the extension, the oak frame is celebrated rather than concealed. Posts, beams and exposed ceiling structures become defining architectural features, showcasing the natural grain, texture and character of the timber.

A particularly distinctive detail is the use of herringbone noggins between the exposed floor and ceiling joists. Traditionally used as structural strutting and usually hidden from view, here the technique has been reinterpreted as an architectural feature.

It is a detail that captures an approach we value greatly at Green Oak Carpentry – taking the knowledge and craftsmanship of traditional oak framing and finding new ways for it to sit within contemporary architecture.

Designed to stand the test of time

Creating the apparent simplicity of the finished extension required meticulous design and collaboration. Green oak naturally moves and shrinks as it matures, meaning the junctions between the oak frame, glazing, brickwork and internal finishes all needed to be carefully considered.

Durable, natural materials were chosen for their longevity, with the building designed to evolve and develop character over time. It is an approach closely aligned with our own philosophy of sustainable timber construction: thoughtfully sourced materials, skilled craftsmanship and buildings designed not simply for today, but for generations.

Recognition from the Wood Awards

The Wood Awards celebrate outstanding British architecture, design and craftsmanship in wood, making this shortlist a wonderful recognition for everyone involved in the project.

For our team, it is also a fitting moment in Green Oak Carpentry’s 30th year. From traditional timber framing techniques to ambitious contemporary oak structures, our approach has always been rooted in a respect for the material and the craft.

We are incredibly proud to see our ‘House in the Surrey Hills’ project recognised alongside some of the very best timber architecture in the UK – and we look forward to the Wood Awards ceremony later this year where the winners will be announced.

Discover more about the design, detailing and craftsmanship behind this shortlisted project in our House in the Surrey Hills Case Study.