Hand Hewn: The Traditions, Tools, and Enduring Beauty of Timber Framing - Hardcover

by Jack A. Sobon (Author)

Celebrate the artistry of timber-frame building with this fascinating look at how the natural, organic forms of trees become the framework for a home.

Hand Hewn is a gorgeous exploration of the traditions of timber-frame building, a 7,000-year-old craft that holds an enduring attraction for its simple elegance and resilience. Internationally renowned timber-frame architect and craftsman Jack A. Sobon offers profiles of the classic tools he uses to hand hew and shape each timber, and explanations of the engineering of the wooden joinery that connects the timbers without a single nail.

Inspiring photos of Sobon's original interior home designs, as well as historical examples of long-lived structures in Europe and North America, make this a compelling tribute to the lasting value of artisanal craftsmanship and a thoughtful, deliberate approach to designing buildings.

Author Biography

Jack A. Sobon is an architect and builder specializing in timber-framed buildings. A founding director of the Timber Framer's Guild of North America and founder of the Traditional Timber Frame Research and Advisory Group, Sobon has devoted his 38-year career to understanding the craft of timber framing. Using only traditional hand tools, he has framed and erected over 50 structures. He is the author of Build a Classic Timber-Framed House and coauthor of Timber Frame Construction. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Sobon teaches and consults nationally on traditional building structures and timber-framing techniques.