Carlise Caffrey was announced as a Technological University Dublin winner at the inaugural Future Timber Design Awards, a new initiative established by Forest Industries Ireland (FII).

The Future Timber Design Awards were developed by FII to encourage sustainable and innovative timber design and construction. The programme aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application, equipping students with the latest knowledge and skills in using homegrown timber for construction.
Carlise, from Ballyspillane, alongside fellow TU Dublin architecture students Anna Frawley and Henry Sexton from County Dublin, received an Honourable Mention for their joint project. The team focused on designing a small shelter using timber offcuts found in the university’s workshop. Titled ‘Afterlife’, the shelter repurposed timber offcuts and salvaged fabric to create a movable and foldable structure with multiple functions.
"The fold-up shelter was made from offcuts, so the whole project was about sustainability," Carlise told the Killarney Advertiser. "The design means it can be scaled to any size, which is ideal if you are hosting people outdoors in the summer but want to pack it all away for the winter."
The competition tasked participants with exploring the potential of homegrown timber as a primary structural and architectural material while responding to real-world design constraints.
Des O’Toole, Head of Marketing and Promotion at Coillte Forests, presented the award to Carlise and said that the competition will expand next year to accept entries from other universities.