First Light Pavilion

Passamaquoddy Territory, Downeast Maine, 2021

Designed by Josh Jackson of Timberhomes Vermont, this pavilion stands at Dickinson’s Reach - the homestead of late yurt builder and author Bill Coperthwaite. The pavilion commemorates the conservation of this land and specifically its open access for indigenous people in coastal Maine.

This kind of frame, with each rafter supported by its neighbor in spiral shape at the peak, is known as a “reciprocal roof.” With each round log rafter supported by a forked post, this is a highly unusual and beautiful timber frame! I had the distinct honor of traveling with this frame (including a final leg on a crazy little barge across an ocean bay) and leading a hand-raising for a group of volunteers who were camped out there for a week. The seascape here was dramatic, with tide drops of 15+ feet, tons of amazing wildlife, and nobody around for miles.

Wide angle of a scribed reciprocal roof timber frame pavilion, featuring bifurcated tree fork posts and round rafters.
Detail of bifurcated tree fork post and round log rafter in reciprocal roof timber frame.
A trailer with round log timbers backed up to an ocean beach in coastal Downeast Maine, about to be loaded on to a barge, with pretty sunrise in the background.
Ocean barge hoisting timbers and building materials in coastal Downeast Maine.
Timber framer Ariel Schecter striking a pose on top of a reciprocal roof timber frame.
Detail of round log rafter peaks in reciprocal roof timber frame.
Low angle of fully scribed reciprocal roof timber frame, featuring bifurcated tree fork posts and round rafters, in the sunshine.
Detail of forked tree post scribed to round log rafter in reciprocal roof timber frame.
Progress shot of roof shingles on top of round log reciprocal roof timber frame.
Complete reciprocal roof timber framed pavilion with cob oven underneath.
Bubble scribing round log rafters using a jig in the shop, for a reciprocal roof timber frame.
Inside Timberhomes Vermont shop, using jigs to scribe round log rafters together for a reciprocal roof timber frame.
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