The studio loft

Hammerbeam trusses over a maker's workshop and gallery.

Loft Studio Timber Ceiling
Hammerbeams over a maker's loft.

A working studio with a gallery above, spanned by hammerbeam trusses so the ceiling soars uninterrupted from wall to wall. The client makes furniture; the frame had to live up to the work.

The frame

size       26 × 36 ft, hammerbeam trusses
species    red oak, quartersawn
joinery    hammerbeams + pegged purlins
finish     clear oil, natural light

What we learned

Quartered oak is unforgiving — it shows every knife mark. So we cut it like the client would: slowly, and proud of the lines.