The brief
A timber-framed house on a hillside, set into the landscape. The brief called for a double-height living space facing the southern view, service and rest areas beside it, and a covered terrace in front of the elevation.
The plot determined the massing: the longitudinal placement follows the contour, while the roof pitch and the projecting eaves follow the proportions of traditional farm buildings.
Structure and materials
- Solid, planed and grooved log walls — tongue and groove interlocking makes the wall airtight.
- Exposed timber roof structure: rafters and ridge purlin, left visible above the living space.
- A large glazed gable towards the view, with the subdivision running up into the roof space.
- Projecting eaves that shade the elevation and protect the cladding from rain.
- Covered terrace and timber balustrade, finished to match the elevation.
The case for timber is not only aesthetic: the structure goes up quickly and dry, the elements are cut to size in the workshop, and site work is correspondingly short.
What needed particular attention
- Settlement of log walls: movement has to be allowed for where openings and internal walls meet them.
- Plinth and ground connection: timber must not sit against a wet surface.
- Eaves depth: with short eaves the cladding greys and gets wet quickly.
- Heat load in the roof space: with large glazing, shading and a ventilated roof build-up are needed.