Project: The Metro House
Architecture: Timberbuilt
Interior Design: Dawn Kempisty
Builder: CookStar Productions
Location: Bozeman, Montana, United States
Area: 2300 ft2
Year: 2020
Photo Credits: Kim Smith
This prefab hybrid timber home puts a spin on the traditional front facing gable house by adding a distinctive shed roof to the side. The roof provides for a deep, covered entry, a wrap-around front porch, and unique curb appeal.
Despite its modern looks, this home features layout elements typical of many urban family homes. You’ll find traditionally placed entries on opposite sides of the house — one on the street-side porch and one exiting to the back yard. The 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms can accommodate a family with kids.
Four timber posts and a horizontal girt carry the load along the outside edge of the front porch, framing the eye-catching entry. Step inside to find a spacious foyer with stairs to the second floor. Overhead, the sloped ceiling is supported by exposed timber rafters which sit on a beefy post and girt system that runs down the hallway to the back of the house.
At the base of the stairs, enter the front-side office which buffers noise from the street. This room can easily flex into a library, playroom, or extra guest bedroom. Head further down the hall, rafters continuing overhead, as you pass a small half bath and laundry area opposite the bedroom suite and on your way into the open concept great room. This space includes the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. Timber rafters extend into the back of the kitchen and two trusses support purlins under the cathedral ceiling in the great room.
Upstairs you’ll find a small loft area overlooking the great room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom with exposed timber purlins supporting the roof.
The Metro house includes spaces to connect the indoors with the surroundings outside. The front porch wraps around the side of the home, offering covered seating space and you’ll find a partially covered patio on the back of the home.
This home takes full advantage of a hybrid building system. All of the exposed timbers are supported by termination points inside the structural insulated panels (SIPs) with no need for posts along the outside walls of the house. This offers more flexibility and more interior space.
