Gambrel Roof Great Room

2018

Timbers
Species: Douglas Fir
Surface: Hewn 
Quantity: 107 Pieces, 6,410 Board Feet
Finish:  Watco Cherry
Edges: Stop Chamfered
Joinery: Ash Pegs – Proud
Decking: 3×6 T&G, Doug Fir – Stained to Match Watco Cherry

This barn-style home has a spectacular view of the wooded hills north of Pittsburgh from the great room. The great room is one of two gambrel-roofed structures that make up this home, with a lateral link connecting the two main masses, and a silo-like stair tower tucked in beside the front entry porch. The entry porch itself is also timber framed, but this structure uses a simple gable truss with curved lower chord and struts. Inside, the 3-bent timber frame in the great room also used curved members. These had a radius that was too tight to easily fabricate from segmented solid timbers, so we used curved Douglas fir glulams for the two sets of curved braces in each bent. The stairway housed in the silo leads to a balcony/loft area above the kitchen and overlooking the great room. A hallway leading from the great room to the other half of the home is timber framed with heavy timber post and lintel portals at intervals leading back the hall.