Against the Grain

A collection of inspiring homes for design enthusiasts that puts renewable “mass timber” front and center as a unique, and beautiful, solution to the challenges of climate change.

While headlines are focusing on mass timber for commercial “plyscrapers,” here are creative, stylish solutions for smaller residential projects that retain the material’s carbon-capturing and strength benefits.

By focusing on a few handpicked examples of single- and multifamily projects through an architectural and cultural lens, the author adds a vital dimension to the story of timber that’s stronger than steel—a story that’s still in the early stages of being written by architects and builders but will soon be the leading edge of design and construction.

Each of the 12 global projects is accompanied by detailed stories capturing the genesis and challenges of the project, as well as floor plans and full-color architectural photographs. Several of the projects included here were designed by courageous architects who built their own houses first using mass timber—ideal advisers for clients looking to navigate using prefabricated engineered wood products.

The projects included here faced the formidable variables for mass timber—from sourcing to shipping to transportation to renting the crane, to coordinating the delivery, to finding a skilled contractor who can physically assemble the panels. However, the reward is also clear in this timely look at a green material everyone will be seeing more of in the coming years.