Carport Project
The goal of the carport was to create a low-profile structure that served multiple functions while minimizing its visual and environmental impact. It needed to store vehicles, firewood, tools, and eventually pool equipment, while sitting quietly within the landscape. To reduce carbon footprint, concrete use was kept to a minimum. Instead of a full foundation, the building is supported on point loads using sonotubes, paired with a gabion foundation and retaining walls filled with native stone. The carport was cut into the hillside so it reads as smaller and more discreet than it actually is, helping it blend into its surroundings rather than stand apart from them.
Structurally, the building uses cross-laminated timber, or CLT, panels. CLT is a mass timber product made by layering solid wood panels perpendicular to one another, creating a strong, dimensionally stable structural element. This allowed for a 23 foot clear span roof without introducing steel or additional concrete. The roof itself is constructed from 32 foot by 8 foot panels, approximately 6 7/8 inches thick, creating a continuous structural surface. A green roof was added for both visual and environmental benefits, planted with a variety of sedums that soften the building’s presence and connect it further to the site. A simple walkway links the carport to the house, reinforcing the idea that this structure is part of the landscape rather than an object placed on it.
