- Part II: Traditional wood framing methods and ceremonial practices
- Part III: The revival of timber frame design in modern North America
- Part IV: Modern timber framing technology and construction advancements
This month begins our four-part blog article series, “Timber Framing History.” As you contemplate designing and building your custom home, you may find yourself seeking a deeper understanding about the timber frame origins, geographical adaptation, and traditions of this ancient craft. By knowing a bit more about how traditional timber framing methods evolved over time, and how today’s machinery and technological advancements have enhanced precision and structural durability, you gain a true appreciation of your home’s connection to ancient timber frame construction history and to tales not yet written.
Riverbend Timber Framing Lancaster conceptual design
You have probably heard or read references to the centuries of tradition behind timber framing. These historical timber construction touchpoints resonate here at Riverbend every day. And, while it is true that there are hundreds of years of timber frame craftsmanship history, you may not be aware of just how many centuries it dates back. Timber framing building methods are so old that you could refer to them in millenniums rather than centuries. Here, we’ll explore the origins of timber frame homes as well as the evolution of timber framing throughout history.
How old is timber framing?
Timber framing is much older than most people realize. Although timber framing is often associated with Europe, people in many parts of the world used large wooden beams to build long-lasting structures. As communities grew and settlements became more permanent, builders looked for reliable ways to create larger homes, churches, and public buildings. Over time, these building traditions developed differently from region to region, but they shared the same basic idea: using heavy timbers to create a strong structural framework.
For example, one of the oldest known references to medieval timber framing in the Western World is from Roman architect and author, Vitruvius. He wrote about the Roman construction technique of opus craticum in his treatise on architecture, De architectura. The House of opus craticum, a half-timber construction building in Italy, was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Ironically, the Roman author was somewhat disparaging of the technique of plastered over wattlework, believing it to be a terrible fire hazard [i]. Yet, the House of opus craticum still survives to this day, an ancient testament to the durability of timber. You can see it here.
While the House of opus craticum is the oldest example of a timber frame building, thousands of examples stand throughout the world. Some, dating back to the 12th century, have survived. Additionally, many of these serve as residences and businesses to this very day. One example of this is Norway’s Kaupanger Stave Church with its timbers cut in 1137. The church has been in continuous use since completion (Kaupanger stavkirke, 2018).
Other, more (relatively) recent structures, are global icons of timber frame architecture history. For example, you may have heard of a Parisian cathedral named Notre-Dame. The Notre-Dame de Paris’ timber frame roof, shown below in this illustration by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879), is a lesser-known element of one of the most famous buildings in the world. Notre-Dame has served as a cathedral and cultural touchstone for over 850 years (La Cathedrale Historique de la Construction, n.d.)
The craft in modern Europe
Outstanding examples of timber framed structures also exist in other parts of modern Europe and have contributed to the definition of timber framing.
Traveling the famed German Timber Frame Road would make anyone fall in love with timber framing– if they haven’t already. The 1,200-mile route traverses nearly the entire length of Germany, connecting several towns, each of which is brimming with centuries old half-timbered residences [i]. For a less arduous tour, visit Quedlinburg where over 1,200 timber frame structures can be viewed and enjoyed in less than a single day’s drive. More than one European town is listed with UNESCO (Official Relations (UNESCO/ERI), n.d.) due to their abundance of intact, inhabitable, useable, timber frame buildings.
The craft in Asia
The wide use of timber framing in Japan is another example of the technique’s extraordinary geographical reach. Though it is thought to be rooted in Chinese wooden architecture (Fu Hsi-nien, 2002), there is not as much English translated research about timber framing’s history in this part of Asia as there is for Europe. We do know, however, there were massive and unmolested forests in Japan and China. Further, heavy use of timber framing in both countries dates back thousands of years (Steinhardt, 1999). Like European craftsman, a regional evolution in techniques left Asian timber framing significantly different from that of the West.
The appearance of timber-framed buildings often reflected the conditions of the area where they were built. Builders adjusted their designs to handle local weather, available materials, and everyday needs. This is one reason timber-framed structures can look very different from one country to another. Even though the buildings varied in style, they were all built around the same goal of creating durable structures from carefully fitted wooden timbers.
Why was timber framing so popular in the past?
Why was the craft of timber framing so popular? In a word: species. Across much of Europe and Asia, if a supply of appropriate wood species was available, early timber framing techniques were present. In addition, more than one researcher has written about the fact that proximity and quantity of appropriate wood species was no less important than what wood species was NOT located nearby.
For example, timber framing was not common in areas with an abundant supply of pine and spruce. Those species produce long, straight logs, perfectly lending themselves to log home construction rather than building a timber framed structure. Lacking copious amounts of deciduous softwood, however, meant timber framed building took hold in other parts of the world.
Regional innovations
As timber framing spread, regions subsequently innovated and developed distinct styles. Perhaps the best example of this is Asian framing’s almost complete lack of diagonal bracing.
Wall (side) framing of a Japanese house under construction from The Popular Science Monthly, Volume 28, 1885-1886
Other instances of regional innovation include: Germany, the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein, becoming famous for its enormous beams (12” was common), while the southwestern region of Swabia, (think: the Black Forest), is thought to be the birthplace of modern style tenons. The latter is due to builders in southwestern Germany learning that wood moved as the timbers “seasoned” or dried, [ii]. Subsequently, the innovation of the tenon occurred as builders learned to peg the joints (while allowing an approximate one inch of space). In turn, this meant timbers now had room to move during the seasoning or drying period, but were still held in place by a wooden peg system.
The craft of timber framing is much older than many people realize.
Today, tenons are an essential part of the timber frame joinery here at Riverbend. You likely already know that we use mortise and tenon techniques in every timber frame structure and home we create. Please return to our blog in two weeks as we continue our journey through the history of timber frame construction.
Notes and photo credits
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Fu Hsi-nien, X. F. (2002). Chinese Architecture – The Origins of Chinese Architecture (English ed.). Yale University Press. Retrieved from Xujie, Liu (2002). Chinese Architecture – The Origins of Chinese Architecture (English ed.). Yale University Press. p. 11
La Cathedrale Historique de la Construction. (n.d.). Retrieved from Notre Dame de Paris: http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/la-cathedrale/histoire/historique-de-la-construction/
Marcus Vitruvius: Architecture, Volume 2, Latin. (n.d.). Retrieved 2018, from University of Chicago: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/2*.html#8.20
Official Relations (UNESCO/ERI). (n.d.). UNESCO/ERIWorld Heritage Centre. Retrieved from UNESCO: https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/de
Steinhardt, N. S. (1999). Chinese Imperial Planning. In N. S. Steinhardt, Chinese Imperial Planning (pp. IX-XI, 1-6, 36). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Timber Framing. (n.d.). Retrieved from Infogalactic: https://infogalactic.com/info/Timber_framing#Carpenters.27_marks
Unknown. (1885-1886). The Popular Science Monthly, Volume 28. Retrieved from Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/popularsciencemo281886newy
Yulia, K. (2011, December 29). La Casa a Graticcio. Herculaneum, Italy. Retrieved from > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_craticum#/media/File:Casa_a_Graticcio.jpg
[i] Half-timbered in these instances refers to a ground floor stone exterior (or) when a load bearing timber is left exposed on the building’s exterior.
[ii] Because of its relation to/dependance on seasoning conditions, movement could include shrinking, expanding, and more.
[iii] Multiple works available in the original Latin and translated. See “a letter to be sent to Bill Thayer”