The Truss House

The Truss House explores how a simple structural system can generate both architecture and community through self-built rural housing. Inspired by Rural Studio's 20K Roundwood House, the project reinterprets the timber truss as the primary organizational element, creating an open public living space while supporting an elevated private volume above. A lightweight ETFE membrane wraps the lower structure, diffusing natural light and contrasting the warmth and permanence of the timber-clad upper mass. The intersection of these two volumes creates a clear hierarchy of public and private space while forming sheltered outdoor areas beneath the cantilevered living quarters. Applied to a reimagined trailer park, the project extends beyond the individual dwelling, using repeatable construction, shared outdoor spaces, and community-focused planning to propose a more resilient model for rural housing.