Bytown Timberworks Douglas Fir Viking Longhouse

Project Information

This Viking longhouse project was designed and timber framed by Ray Gibbs of Bytown Timberworks and constructed using FOHC Douglas fir. Located in Westminster, Vermont, the frame was raised over the course of three days during clear fall weather in southern Vermont, creating ideal conditions for a smooth and successful raising.

The structure measures 20 by 60 feet and includes a 34-foot-long loft floor above. A king post truss spans the great room, providing a wide, unobstructed space below while maintaining the strength and proportions required for a building of this scale. Rising above the frame is a 9-by-9-foot cupola that reaches 30 feet high, designed as a lookout tower that reinforces the traditional Viking longhouse character of the project.

The raising was supported by Dan Atwood Construction of Chester, Vermont, with additional expertise provided by the team at Firetower Engineered Timber. The Douglas fir timbers were supplied by Dorval Timber, whose material quality contributed significantly to the finished frame. The project stands as a strong example of collaborative craftsmanship and traditional timber framing executed at a large scale.