It is the end of another brutally cold New England week, and along with the massive amount of snow we’ve had and the frozen seas off of Nantucket I have been glad that I am in the office not too far from the pellet stove.
Browsing through our library of images of our completed projects I was reminded of the Bethlehem Monastery of Poor Clares project in Barhamsville, VA. This was such a cool project that it had to go into my top ten list as the sixth coolest timber frame Vermont Timber Works has built. Check out the rest of The Top 10 Coolest Timber Frames (According To Me) here!
There is a poster in our display room of this image, which is such an inspirational space:
The Nun’s Choir in the Monastery
Douglas fir was a good choice because of the warmth of the grain, and because of its strength for the modified hammer beam trusses.
Exterior picture of Monastery
We also built the timber frame porch that wraps around their garden, sort of a cloistered effect.
Lights on inside Monastery
You can see how the shed roof framing buttresses the center section of the choir in the image above.
Post and Beam porch
We also built the timber frame porch on the exterior of the building.
Timbers for Monastery cut
We label all of our pieces after we fabricate the joinery, which makes assembly on site a breeze.
Bents preassembled at jobsite
The first few days on site we build all of the bents and trusses on the ground before the crane comes in to set the frame.
Raised frame
Once we are done with the raising we brace everything so that the frame is true and plumb.
Coffered Ceiling
We didn’t do anything in the refectory, but I love coffered ceilings. Just an image I wanted to share…
Chapel Interior
I love how the windows let in the natural light, which shows off the beauty of the wood.
Bethlehem Chapel
Monastery Sanctuary
The natural materials present in this construction–wood and stone–are symbols of the simplicity of this particular order of nuns, who follow the Franciscan tradition.
Choir for Bethlehem Monastery
Some images speak for themselves, which I believe this image of the sacred space certainly does.
Thank you for stopping by our timber framers’ blog! If you like this timber frame, or have any timber work questions, we invite you to get in contact, ask an expert, or share your thoughts in the comment section below!
About the Author
