Engineered Timber Portal Frames
Large-span timber structures designed to support ambitious architecture — from refined residential spaces to functional commercial buildings
What Is a Timber Portal Frame?
A portal frame is a structural system made up of two vertical columns connected by a rigid beam.
This allows structural loads to be transferred through the frame itself, reducing the need for internal load-bearing walls or closely spaced supports.
Constructed using engineered timber such as LVL, portal systems can achieve large spans while retaining the warmth, character, and efficiency of timber construction.
Engineered Timber Portal Frames for Large-Span Design
Timber portal frames provide an efficient structural solution for achieving wide spans, open interiors, and flexible layouts across both residential and commercial projects.
Customkit designs and supplies engineered timber portal systems used in homes, rural buildings, hospitality spaces, workshops, and commercial developments throughout New Zealand.
Why Architects and Designers Use Timber Portal Frames
Large Open Spaces
Portal frames enable generous, uninterrupted interior spaces ideal for:
Open-plan homes
Hospitality venues
Rural commercial buildings
Workshops and studios
Showrooms and gathering spaces
Exposed Timber Aesthetic
Unlike many steel systems, engineered timber portals can remain visible as part of the architecture, contributing warmth, rhythm, and material honesty to the finished space.
Efficient Construction
Prefabricated structural components support efficient onsite assembly and predictable construction sequencing — particularly valuable for rural and large-scale projects.
Clean Structural Logic
Portal systems provide clear and efficient load paths, simplifying structural coordination for engineers, builders, and consultants.
Explore Projects Using Timber Portal Frames
Designed for Residential and Commercial Builds
Flexible Structural Systems
There are no fixed plans or standard structural grids.
Every portal layout is designed specifically for the project, allowing the building to respond to site conditions, operational requirements, and architectural goals.
This flexibility makes engineered timber portals well suited to both bespoke homes and commercial buildings requiring clear-span interiors.
A Proven Structural Approach
Customkit has supplied engineered timber portal structures across New Zealand for decades.
Our systems support projects seeking the performance of large-span construction while maintaining the warmth, efficiency, and architectural quality of timber.
Working With Customkit
Architects, architectural designers, and project teams typically engage Customkit during concept or developed design stages when resolving structural spans and planning large open spaces.
We collaborate closely with designers, engineers, and builders to deliver structural timber solutions aligned with the architectural vision and practical construction requirements.