Unlike Western timber framing, Japanese post and beam maintains a closer relationship to nature by using naturally curved building members. They also reduce the use of diagonal bracing.
Owner of Groton Timberworks Nathan Puffer became a fan of Japanese timber frame after traveling to Japan to study traditional tea room design. He has a deep respect for the craftsmanship and creativity that Japanese builders put into their work.
The Frame
A Japanese timber frame cabin is a beautiful place to relax and take in the surrounding natural beauty. The unique design of a Japanese timber frame home allows for an open floor plan and the ability to incorporate many elements from traditional architecture. This includes an emphasis on natural materials, a connection to nature, asymmetrical features, multiple windows and a more modest roof pitch. This enables a Japanese timber frame structure to be built in most climates, and is especially well suited to areas where earthquakes are common.
This building style developed from temple and shrine construction in ancient Japan. The wide beams are joined by wooden dowels, which create a very strong and rigid structure. The walls of the house are sturdier than Western two-by-four wall systems, and allow for large expanses of non-load bearing glass that provide a spectacular view of exterior garden spaces. Because of the wide walls, Japanese timber frame structures are often able to be more spacious than typical western-style homes.
Japanese timber framing also utilizes fewer diagonal bracing members, which reduces the weight of the structure and ties the building together more structurally. The use of hand tools also allows for a high level of craftsmanship and the ability to produce joinery that is much more durable than the same work performed on machines in the United States. In fact, it was this artisanry that first attracted BMC’s Castro to Japanese timber framing: While visiting Japan for training in Sekisui House’s SHAWOOD framing system, Castro saw a lot of similarities between the process and the traditional Japanese carpentry employed by the company.
The assembly of a Japanese timber frame can be time intensive, but the result is a remarkably strong and beautiful building. The jigsaw-like assembly is augmented by the use of a hand plane for a smoother finish. These joints are also reinforced with a through-tenon, a special type of mortise and tenon joint that allows for a larger area of wood to be cut away than would otherwise be possible using a conventional mortise and tenon.
The Roof
The roof of this timber frame home is a dramatic sculptural composition in its own right. The cathedral roof system features a series of curved beams that create an open feel throughout the interior. Architects Helene Seguin and Vincent Lavoie were inspired by Japanese temples and churches for this design, and the result is an intriguing space that feels light and airy.
Traditional framing in Japan is a unique approach that incorporates a deep understanding of natural wood grain and the structural integrity of wood. This method combines the best of Eastern and Western joinery, including mortise and tenon and pegged connections. This method of building is very different from stick framing in the U.S., but the Japanese have kept their version of timber framing intact, even as they modernize the structure for use in new homes and other buildings.
Another key difference in the construction of a timber frame house in Japan is that they incorporate much more natural and organic materials than their Western counterparts. In order to keep the structure in tune with nature, they often use materials such as cypress, cherry and cedar to finish their frames. This makes for a beautiful and sustainable home that can stand the test of time.
In addition to using beautiful and natural materials, the Japanese also pay special attention to the quality of their craftsmanship. This is especially true when it comes to their joinery. The joinery in a Japanese timber frame is often extremely detailed, and it’s not uncommon for a skilled builder to spend weeks crafting just one set of joiners.
While some people might dismiss this type of construction as old-fashioned or antiquated, this style of building is making a comeback thanks to its sustainability and beauty. Many builders today are also drawn to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, particularly when compared with other construction methods.
Whether you’re planning on building your own timber frame cabin or looking for someone to execute your vision, it’s important to find a professional who is familiar with this ancient building technique. To ensure that your project is built to the highest standard, look for a team with experience and expertise in timber frame design, construction and finishing. This will help ensure your timber frame cabin is a successful and long-lasting structure that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
The Interior
The timber framing method used in Japan dates back centuries. Many temples and castles were built using this style of building, including the Horyu-ji Temple which is considered the world’s oldest timber frame structure. Traditional Japanese timber frames are often raised off the ground, with a stone or concrete foundation. This allows the timbers to breath, preventing mold and insect infestations as well as keeping them dry in case of rain or snow.
A Japanese timber-framed home is a unique and creative space that allows the owner to design an interior layout to suit their specific lifestyle. The Japanese have a keen sense of aesthetic, and they have adapted traditional designs to make them more modern and functional. They use tatami mats on the floor, sliding doors (fusuma) and chigaidana (a type of room divider). Many of these structures have a zen feel to them with natural elements, wood burning stoves, and shoji which allow for an open feeling to the rooms.
Japanese framing uses a different method of joinery called mortise and tenon. This method creates a strong and durable structure that can last for centuries. It is an extremely labor intensive technique, requiring hand carving of the wooden pegs that hold the joints together. This is a true trade skill and not something easily mastered by an amateur. In addition, the use of chisels and other hand tools creates a beautiful finish that can not be achieved with a power saw or other machinery.
Unlike the two-by-four construction that is used in most American houses, Japanese timber-frames transfer roof loads through posts directly to the ground. This makes the structures more energy efficient and it also allows for large expanses of glass to be used in a house. This is an essential part of the Japanese Sukiya Living Environment as it provides an opportunity to integrate indoor and outdoor garden spaces into a living space.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, there was a push by bureaucrats in Japan to modernise their homes to be more like Western style housing. This was largely due to the desire to present a more civilised face of Japan to the outside world. Despite these pressures, the Japanese were very hesitant to abandon their cultural heritage. This is partly why some of the most famous architects of our time such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Ralph Adams Cram and Richard Neutra have been able to take Japanese influences and apply them to modernist styles.
The Finishing Touches
The Japanese have one of the richest timber framing traditions with centuries of experience and a variety of complicated styles. They’ve developed a variety of construction methods to withstand earthquakes, including Ishibatate, a style in which the structure is raised off the ground on stones. The raised frame keeps the wood out of contact with the earth, preventing moisture and insects from damaging the materials. This type of building also allows winds to move through the house, drying the frames if they should become damp. Ishibatate frames are typically built from insect repellant cypress, cedar, or chestnut.
After traveling to Japan to study traditional tea room design, Groton Timberworks owner Nathan Puffer became fascinated with the unique design and build style of Japanese timber framing. He quickly began to incorporate the technique into many of his projects and has been blown away by the creativity and aesthetic appeal of this type of construction.
Traditional Japanese timber framing techniques were originally used for temples and shrines but soon came to be used for residential houses as well. Today, wooden houses account for about 90%* of detached homes in Japan.
Japanese timber framing focuses on the flexibility of wood rather than on strength. This approach takes advantage of wood’s greatest characteristic, its ability to flex with an earthquake’s tremors instead of being crushed like concrete and steel buildings. By using several major strategies, including a foundation that shifts as one unit and a raised sub-structure called stiffeners instead of a sill foundation laid flat on stone or concrete, the house can absorb and disperse an earthquake’s energy and maintain its structural integrity.
These techniques are incorporated into Japanese post and beam designs to create a strong, flexible building that is both beautiful and functional. This is why Japanese timber frames are so popular in the world today.
If you’re interested in incorporating timber framing into your home, Groton Timberworks can help you get started. We offer plans for a small Japanese-inspired timber frame firewood shed that you can build yourself, and we also provide detailed shop drawings so that you know exactly how to cut your timbers and what the finished product will look like. If you’re ready to start your project, just give us a call!