Whether you’re in the market for a new house or just looking for a way to change the look of your current home, timber house designs can help you create a beautiful space you’ll be proud to call your own. These designs are not only beautiful, but they’re also affordable, so you can make your dream home a reality without breaking the bank.
Swedish
Whether you are looking for a new home or are interested in an update on the traditional log house, there are many Swedish timber house designs to inspire you. They are built using simple and practical techniques and are ideal for those wanting to connect with nature. These houses are also very environmentally friendly, providing an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.
The Scandinavian style of house design features minimal and clean lines. These designs are also easy to maintain. The exterior of the houses features a neutral palette reminiscent of the Swedish landscape. These houses are built using a combination of timber framing and traditional techniques. The facades are constructed with vertical dark wood, which provides an attractive look. This colour also absorbs light, making the inside of the house look spacious.
The house’s exterior is made of cross-laminated timber and treated with black tar. The interior walls are clad with a layer of 18″ tongue and groove vertical timber boarding. Ceilings are formed with a layer of 1/2″ fibreboard. The chimneys are constructed of masonry, and the party wall is plastered internally. The roofs are gable-style. These houses are trendy in Sweden.
Another example of Scandinavian-inspired log home designs is the Cabin Porn, a window-filled cabin in Gunnarskog, Sweden. The house has a gable roof and skylights. The interior is designed to be comfortable and welcoming. It is a perfect guest bedroom. It also combines modern contemporary design with the scenery of the Finnish woods.
Claesson Koivisto Rune designed the plus house. This single-family home has a large open kitchen and living room. The windows are glazed and allow daylight to penetrate the upper floor. The wooden exterior of the house is protected with tadelakt, a waterproof lime stone-plaster surface. The asymmetrical layout of the house provides a very distinctive look. It is enveloped in wood, and the dark colours create a striking effect.
The Forsberg Arkitektur och Formgivning home is a warm and inviting family home. The home has polished concrete flooring and a natural wood interior wall. It is also enveloped in a corrugated aluminium facade. The home’s design is minimalist, which evokes the warmth of the Nordic environment.
These Swedish timber house designs were built during the post-war period. They were imported from Sweden after World War II. They are a great addition to the built environment and have a long history. The majority of these houses are still standing today. In the years after WW2, Sweden introduced function-based requirements, which give a choice on how to meet fire safety standards.
The Sentinel Haus Institut is a non-profit organization certifying excellent room air results. This organization has been a pioneer in evaluating the performance of Swedish prefabricated timber houses. They conducted field trials on the Zip family’s Swedish home and determined it performed well.
Half-timbered style
Historically, half-timbered timber house designs have been standard throughout Europe for hundreds of years. These timbered buildings are found on various continents, including North America, Germany, France, England, Italy and Switzerland. While the basic concept of the design is the same, the material used to build the structure varies. These houses are often made from squared logs, and the ends of the records are cut off. In some cases, the outer walls are covered with shingles. In some cases, the wooden frames are elaborately ornamented.
The foundation for a half-timbered structure is usually a stone base. This protects the wooded building from humidity and fire. A mason is often needed to excavate the cellar. Infill is sometimes made of bricks or rubble, but most panels are filled with cob, wattle and daub, or even s; daube boards are also filled with a mixture of small stones, clay, and lime called torches.
A carpenter typically carries out the half-timbering process. A mason is not usually required to build the ground floor of a half-timbered house, as wood was often available in the area. The wooden structure is then covered with a layer of plaster on the exterior. This provides insulation and warmth. There are often holes left in the roof of the main facade for ventilation purposes. This type of building was primarily constructed in the late medieval period.
Half-timbered style timber house designs are most commonly seen in France. Many examples of this solid building style try to include Burgundy, Normandy, Champagne, Piedmont, and Lombardy. These timbered buildings are often popular tourist destinations.
The origin of half-timbering lies in the Middle Ages when farmers built these homes. A few examples of the early half-timbered style include the Standerbau, constructed in 1346 in Quedlinburg, Germany. This timber-frame house is considered to be the oldest such structure in Europe.
During the Tudor period, a modified version of half-timbering was employed in England. This was because the expansion of the British merchant fleet led to an increase in demand for timber. The wood was then used to make charcoal. This increased demand for wood meant that the supply of wood for timber framing decreased during the Jacobean period. This forced the use of a different method, referred to as jettying. This technique was more expensive and allowed the construction of higher stories with square footage.
The main facade of a half-timbered house is generally oriented southeast. This orientation is usually based on the sun’s position. Because of the natural warping of the timbers, floors in these buildings tend to slant downwards. This is not due to sloppy building practices but to the natural shape of the logs. This allows for a more flexible placement of doors and windows.
Poteaux-en-terre
During the colonial era, St Louis was a hub for constructing private homes made from vertical logs. The poteaux-en-terre house is an excellent example of the time. It also happens to be a National Historic Landmark. There are several other poteaux-en-terre examples in the area, such as the Bauvais-Amoureux House, the largest of its kind in the region. It was shortened in the 1840s but is still a fine example of the genre.
One of the oldest and most elegant poteaux-en-terre houses is the opulent Durand Cabin in Ste. Genevieve. It has an exceptionally well-preserved interior and an impressive collection of original wood beams, including walnut ceiling trusses. The roof is stout, with a unique front and back slop. The entryway is also a sight to behold. The name is a bit of a misnomer, as this was not a public building but a private residence.
Another example of the same genre is the Creole House in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois. It was built in 1800 and remodelled in the early 19th century. Its one-story brick facade was sided in 1858. It is also known to be the first of its kind in the area. It is still a lovely style example but is no longer in use. A much more elaborate version of this same building is the Holy Family Church in Cahokia, Illinois. It was constructed in the early 1790s and replaced a similar structure built in 1699. Several stone details were salvaged, including the front door and front window. The rear of the house is also of note, as is the impressive basement.
A poteaux-en-terre aficionado might consider a road trip to the Mississippi Valley to look at the best of these old-timer structures. There are several in the area, from the stately but venerable Maison Bolduc in Bruges, Quebec, to the wealthy but venerable Dodier-Sarpy house in Natchez, Mississippi. A tour of a few of these sites will give you plenty of fodder for your next article.