WoodPoP Dara Award Hosts Online Briefing with National Focal Points and Jury Members
The WoodPoP Dara Award marked an important milestone on its journey towards its inaugural Award Ceremony with a successful online briefing held on 18 February 2026. The session brought together 39 participants across the Pan-European region, including National Focal Points, Jury Members, and members of the WoodPoP Dara Award Steering Group.
Strengthening a Pan‑European Initiative in Timber Construction
The briefing began with a welcome and an overview of the Award’s purpose and long-term vision. Participants were reminded that the Dara Award is a recognition and not a competition. It is designed and envisioned to support cooperation and celebrate excellence in timber buildings and infrastructure across the Pan-European region.
National nominating entities and jury members expressed enthusiasm and strong engagement, aligning with the supportive and collaborative tone that continues to define the Dara Award community.
Guidance for National Focal Points
A key portion of the meeting provided practical guidance for National Focal Points, who coordinate the nomination of projects in their country. Focal Points were encouraged to nominate up to three exemplary projects across at least two categories and to liaise directly with architects or project owners, who will submit projects through the online platform. Each national nominating entity follows its own internal process to identify and select the projects it wishes to put forward.
The briefing clarified that Focal Points are not required to prepare submissions themselves. Instead, their role is to ensure that project teams complete the process and confirm final nominations with the WoodPoP Secretariat. Eligibility requirements were reviewed, including project completion deadlines, timber as the primary structural material, and geographical participation criteria.
Preparing Jury Members for the Evaluation Process
Participants were also briefed on the upcoming evaluation phase. Each participating country is expected to nominate one Jury Member, who will assess up to 10 projects through the online platform during the evaluation period from May to July 2026. A Jury Guide will be made available before the evaluation begins to support Jury Members in applying the award criteria consistently and effectively.
Organisers encouraged countries that have not yet nominated their Jury Member to do so as soon as possible, ensuring a balanced distribution of workload across the international jury panel.
Submission and Technical Support
The WoodPoP Secretariat provided a live demonstration of the Evalato platform, the awards management system used for the Dara Award. It included time expectations, the ability to save progress, and the required documentation before the 31 March 2026 submission deadline. A reminder that the Registration and Application Guide is available on the WoodPoP Dara Award webpage for additional reference
Engaging Discussion and Positive Feedback
The session concluded with an open Q&A, where participants expressed appreciation for the clarity of the guidance and confirmed that preparatory steps are already underway in several countries. The atmosphere was described as constructive, friendly, and aligned with the Award’s collaborative spirit.
Key Dates
- 15 March 2026: Identification of national projects
- 30 March 2026: Nomination of Jury Members
- 31 March 2026: Deadline for project submissions
- May - July 2026: Jury evaluation period
- July - August 2026: Publication of eligible projects in the Dara Hall of Fame
- August - September 2026: Public voting
- 26 November 2026: Dara Award Ceremony in Prague
For more details about the WoodPoP Dara Award, visit: https://woodpop.eu/woodpop-dara-award/