Bluegrass Residence

Durham, NC

Set within a natural clearing between deciduous and coniferous forest, Bluegrass Residence is a single-family home constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), a material chosen for its strength, thermal efficiency, and acoustic calm. The CLT has the ability to be supported on upturned beams which created an infinity edge between the structural ceiling canopy and the tree canopy outside.

Size: 5,000 ft²
Client: Private
Scope: Schematic Design
Sustainability: Mass Timber
Team: Lindsey Wikstrom, Jean Suh, Emma Jurczynski, Mara Jovanovic

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Unlike conventional stick-frame timber, CLT panels are made by layering boards in alternating directions, creating a solid wood plate that behaves as both structure and finish. This allows the home to express the tactile warmth of wood on every surface while maintaining exceptional stability and energy performance.

The plan unfolds in a pinwheel formation rather than a traditional box, extending each wing toward a different facet of the forest. This geometry pulls nature into every room, creating a sense of rotation and immersion. Light shifts through the canopy from morning to dusk, and each window frames a unique ecological scene.

Unlike conventional stick-frame timber, CLT panels are made by layering boards in alternating directions, creating a solid wood plate that behaves as both structure and finish. This allows the home to express the tactile warmth of wood on every surface while maintaining exceptional stability and energy performance.

The plan unfolds in a pinwheel formation rather than a traditional box, extending each wing toward a different facet of the forest. This geometry pulls nature into every room, creating a sense of rotation and immersion. Light shifts through the canopy from morning to dusk, and each window frames a unique ecological scene.

Material and spatial choices mirror the surrounding woodland: muted greens and warm browns echo the seasonal palette, deep roof overhangs filter dappled light, and natural ventilation moves through the home like a forest breeze. The result is a living environment that blurs the boundary between shelter and landscape. The home becomes grounded in the forest’s rhythms, and shaped by its quiet intelligence.

Material and spatial choices mirror the surrounding woodland: muted greens and warm browns echo the seasonal palette, deep roof overhangs filter dappled light, and natural ventilation moves through the home like a forest breeze. The result is a living environment that blurs the boundary between shelter and landscape. The home becomes grounded in the forest’s rhythms, and shaped by its quiet intelligence.

Reach out to start a conversation about your project and how we can bring it to life with thoughtful, sustainable design hello@mattaforma.com

Reach out to start a conversation about your project and how we can bring it to life with thoughtful, sustainable design hello@mattaforma.com