CLT HOUSE

CLT House represents atelierjones’ first foray into mass timber construction, and became one of the first completed Cross-Laminated Timber projects in the United States. This experience marked a turning point in the firm’s trajectory, sparking our passion and advocacy for mass timber across all building types.

Throughout the house, wood takes center stage, celebrated as a material that can be at once nostalgic and forward-thinking.

Situated in Seattle's Madison Park neighborhood, this unique residence was designed to accommodate a family of four on a small, irregularly shaped lot. The site's triangular shape inspired both the plan and section of the house, with pyramidal vaults reaching upward to bring natural light into the upper levels. The precise geometric design of the house was made possible through mass timber's digitally enabled fabrication process.

The compact, 1,500 SF design is conceived as a nesting series of volumes that spiral from entry to roof garden. Every square foot of the house was carefully considered, with spaces often serving multiple functions. A central core efficiently consolidates vertical services.

In order to better understand the carbon sequestration benefits of using mass timber, CLT House underwent a Whole Building Life Cycle Analysis in 2019. This was the first of several Life Cycle Analysis studies that atelierjones has since participated in, each expanding our understanding of the impacts of construction materials on global warming.

The interior of CLT House celebrates the raw beauty of Cross-Laminated Timber, reminiscent of the tactile quality found in the wooden beach cabins prevalent in the Pacific Northwest. This light-toned interior is enveloped by dark, shou-sugi-ban burn-treated Douglas Fir, creating a visual contrast like bark and sapwood.

The CNC cutting techniques employed in CLT fabrication allowed panels to seamlessly connect the house's irregular angles— a process not possible with conventional building materials. This potential for customization is exemplified in the organic design of the upper-level screen panels, resembling pine knots, which filter dappled light into the bedrooms.