Timber Framing in its purest form is the use of large heavy timbers joined expertly together with pure wood to wood connections. This building style has produced the strongest and longest lasting structures ever created, with proven examples lasting over 2000 years and weathering seismic activity, atomic blasts, hurricanes and other upheavals. It is quite simply the most beautiful, strongest, and longest lasting way to build with wood.
Though many of the connections look overwhelmingly complex to the novice, all are easily carved out by those of any experience level once the proper tools and techniques are learned. Many of our students have never used a hand saw or chisel before the class, and after a bit of practice and progression of joint complexity are comfortably cutting out the more interesting joints known to the craft.
Our own timber frame joinery has led us to prefer the more advanced methods of framing found in east asia, especially china, korea and japan. Here Timber Framing has reached a zenith of perfection in aesthetic design as well as practical application to weather major seismic actions, and severe weather patterns.
We find great joy and affirmation in replicating those simple time tested practices which have proven more than adequate for thousands of years. With this track record and proven performance, there is very little guesswork involved. In short, if we look at the past, we know what will work, and we can simply concern ourselves with how we may employ these techniques to our benefit.