This project explored timber framing as both a structural system and an architectural language through the design of a four-unit housing complex. Developed as part of a collaborative studio focused on the “bones” of architecture, the proposal investigated how exposed framing, repetition, and hierarchy could organize space before the addition of exterior cladding or interior finishes.
The building is organized around a shared two-story central courtyard that acts as the communal core of the project. Positioned between the four residential units, this open space introduces natural light and vegetation into the center of the complex while maintaining visual connections between all units. Rather than functioning as a corridor, the courtyard becomes a shared spatial void that encourages interaction and orientation throughout the building.
Each unit occupies one side of the structure and is organized across two levels with relatively simple floor plans. This clarity of organization allows the timber framework and roof geometry to become the primary architectural expression. Units with multiple bedrooms extend outward through exterior balconies, reinforcing the relationship between interior spaces and the articulated roof forms above.
The project’s defining formal gesture emerges through a series of slanted roof moments that create a dynamic, folded profile across the structure. Exterior walls are intentionally offset from the primary framing system, emphasizing the layered relationship between enclosure and structure. A hierarchy of framing members organizes the composition, with thicker columns and major beams defining the primary load-bearing system while lighter secondary framing establishes enclosure, circulation, and spatial division.
As a physical model, the project emphasized craftsmanship, tectonic clarity, and the articulation of timber construction systems. The final representation focused on expressing how structural repetition, roof geometry, and communal organization could generate a cohesive architectural identity through framing alone.
