Exposing a structural member through an exterior wall can be a useful device to create dynamic forms, to connect interior space with the outside, or to showcase the structure as part of the exterior design.
However, when this is done in a temperate climate, that member can also act as a thermal bridge between the inside and outside. This can cause a number of problems such as unanticipated thermal expansion or inconvenient condensation.
If this element is important enough to the design, a solution that has been used in the past is to run a small loop from the house's radiant heating system to equalize the structure's temperature where it comes back inside.
