Collaborative Design

Santa Cruz Timberframes begins with the forest. Our sixteen acres has 1200 mature redwoods and 800 hardwood trees. Each harvest provides the core of a single project. (usually ten or twelve redwoods).

Our cycle of building matches the seasonal cycle of the Santa Cruz climate. We harvest at the beginning of the dry season before the sap begins to flow, thus allowing the timbers to be used in their first year.

Redwood timbers shrink less than any other forest tree*. The combination of air dried madrone and fresh harvested redwood, creates the core of the timberframe design.

The client brings a unique set of priorities into the design. They must decide whether the bathroom..or living room..or entry, becomes the focus of the timberframe core.

We begin by modeling the timberframe, in 1/20 scale. This gives us the chance to work with the client on developing their unique home or business. The modeling process includes modeling to specific terrain; used for solar design, photovoltaic, or fire resistant tile roofs.

*http://www.calredwood.org/ref/pdf/dimstabl.pdf