Timber Framed Houses
It’s been a while that I time to write anything. Making a living and pursuing a hobby that is becoming another full time job, if not an obsession at this point, leave little time for anything else.
I’ve been researching architectural styles mostly, carpentry in residential construction to a lesser degree and how to translate both to miniature structures; also tools and materials.
Researching period styles of architecture is continuously bringing me back to Europe, particularly to medieval and post-Gothic buildings. Increasingly intriguing me are half-timbered houses (“Fachwerk” in German).
I often wondered why these timbers existed in the first place but had no ambition to find out. But, just as we get older, our interests change and suddenly I had to find out what determines the layout of the timbers, why some were curved and why some looked like a Y or X etc. The deeper I was digging for info the more I found out about the history and the entire construction of these truly marvelous structures.
Today, there are roughly 2,000,000 Fachwerk buildings in Germany alone. Many more are found in Switzerland, England and France and some are over 700 years old.
A large concentration of these buildings remains in the greater Southwestern part of Germany and the bordering Switzerland and France. This part of Europe has been prone to seismic activity for centuries, yet these architectural jewels have survived.
As often is the case with research on the web, one thing leads to another and so I just had to find out why Fachwerk buildings are essentially earthquake proof. In modern residential buildings upper floor loads are bearing on the walls below, whereas with Fachwerk the load bearing is on the frame work starting in the basement all the way to the top. The strategic placement of timbers not only gives vertical but lateral strength to the entire framework. The spaces (Gefaecher in German) between the timbers are mostly filled with intertwining branches covered with adobe and only serve the purpose of enclosure.
Far be it from me to replicate such structures with all their intricate artwork and architectural embellishments. My intent is to keep it whimsical and give the impression of those styles by incorporating prominent elements.
I’ve been researching architectural styles mostly, carpentry in residential construction to a lesser degree and how to translate both to miniature structures; also tools and materials.
Researching period styles of architecture is continuously bringing me back to Europe, particularly to medieval and post-Gothic buildings. Increasingly intriguing me are half-timbered houses (“Fachwerk” in German).
I often wondered why these timbers existed in the first place but had no ambition to find out. But, just as we get older, our interests change and suddenly I had to find out what determines the layout of the timbers, why some were curved and why some looked like a Y or X etc. The deeper I was digging for info the more I found out about the history and the entire construction of these truly marvelous structures.
Today, there are roughly 2,000,000 Fachwerk buildings in Germany alone. Many more are found in Switzerland, England and France and some are over 700 years old.
A large concentration of these buildings remains in the greater Southwestern part of Germany and the bordering Switzerland and France. This part of Europe has been prone to seismic activity for centuries, yet these architectural jewels have survived.
As often is the case with research on the web, one thing leads to another and so I just had to find out why Fachwerk buildings are essentially earthquake proof. In modern residential buildings upper floor loads are bearing on the walls below, whereas with Fachwerk the load bearing is on the frame work starting in the basement all the way to the top. The strategic placement of timbers not only gives vertical but lateral strength to the entire framework. The spaces (Gefaecher in German) between the timbers are mostly filled with intertwining branches covered with adobe and only serve the purpose of enclosure.
Far be it from me to replicate such structures with all their intricate artwork and architectural embellishments. My intent is to keep it whimsical and give the impression of those styles by incorporating prominent elements.
All the while I am committed to using 80% to 90% recycled materials, natural materials and environmentally friendly, namely water based paints and glues.
So, off I go, working on some Fachwerk.
