This 2,200-square-foot (approximately 204 square meters) residence challenges traditional indoor environments in the United States through its innovative use of materials, colors, and forms. It is one of only two homes in the country constructed with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), a highly durable wood product made by bonding layers of wood in alternating directions.
This single-family home, located near the Atlanta Loop, features six gable roofs merged into one unified roof structure. In an effort to rethink traditional spatial concepts—such as Le Corbusier’s free plan and Rudolf Lutz’s spatial planning—designer Jennifer Bonner proposed organizing the building around its roof plan. Here, the roof’s ridges and valleys dictate the arrangement of rooms, passages, and double-height spaces inside, making the roof the defining element of the floor plan.
Roof plan
From the street, the house presents an asymmetrical and unconventional form, replacing the traditional gabled façade with a design that appears to have been cut and reassembled. The intersecting six gable roofs carve unique contours on all four sides of the building. Additional subtle details, such as the roofing asphalt, exceed typical industry standards in steepness. The house sits on a narrow 24-foot (approximately 7.3m) deep and 18-foot (approximately 5.5m) wide lot—dimensions comparable to a spacious mobile home—demonstrating how roof plan concepts can be applied efficiently in dense urban contexts.
All exterior and interior walls, floors, and roofs are constructed from solid CLT panels—a material well-established overseas but relatively new to the U.S. market. These panels were custom-cut, hung in place, and assembled within 14 days, providing a strong structural framework without the need for traditional framing connections. This innovative panelized construction also creates a cohesive visual language throughout the interior materials.
The gabled house, a BIM project by MALL, further explores materiality through a range of artificial finishes applied both inside and out. Jennifer Bonner reinterprets the traditional southern U.S. practice of artificial veneers, a historical response to limited access to expensive materials and a desire for imitation. She also incorporates modern “color blocking” techniques inspired by popular culture.
Visually, the house’s sides are clad with plaster-made artificial bricks embedded with glass beads, producing a subtle sparkling effect. Inside, the black terrazzo flooring is applied as thin tiles rather than traditional grout-polished slabs, while the oriented strand board (OSB) finish is mimicked on the tiles. The marble-like surfaces in the bedroom and adjacent bathroom use unexpected materials—vinyl and cartoon-style illustrations—instead of the traditional Italian marble often desired.
Areas featuring gray concrete, yellow vinyl marble, and black terrazzo are arranged on some walls like protective panels, creating a color-blocking effect with several extended sightlines passing through the home. These artificial finishes suggest spatial divisions but do not actually define physical room boundaries.
Jennifer Bonner, the lead designer, boldly experiments with materials, forms, and colors to enliven the interior spaces. By combining unconventional materials with innovative roof designs, the gable house explores fresh possibilities for how spatial organization, form, and materiality can interact within a home.
Design Drawings:
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan – Reflective Ceiling
Section A
Section B
Section C
Node Section Diagram
Project Information:
Architectural Firm: MALL
Location: Atlanta, United States
Category: Independent Residential Buildings
Building Area: 2,200 ft²
Year of Project: 2018
Photographers: (BIM Training) NAARO, Timothy Hursley
Suppliers: Stone Source, Kartell, HAY, Muuto, VaproShield
Architecture and Interior Design: Jennifer Bonner, Director of MALL
Collaborative Architect: Olinger Architects
Facade Research: Alex Timmer
Landscape Design: Carley Rickles
Structural Engineers: AKT II (Hanif Kara), Bensonwood, PEC Structural Engineering, Fire Tower
General Contractor: Principle Builders Group
CLT Manufacturer: KLH USA
CLT Installation Expert: Terry Ducatt
Wood Product Expert: 7 Seas Group USA
Civil Engineer: Crescent View Engineering
Mechanical Systems: Emily McGlohn
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