Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

The present article characterizes the architecture of timber-framing houses, summarizes the history of genesis and development of the framing construction system, presents construction materials, used in the building of timber-framing houses, describes structural construction technologies, paying closer attention to modern approaches in the renovation of historic buildings and in the construction of new timber-framing houses, reveals reasons for popularity growth of framing in the 20th – beginning 21st centuries in several countries around the world. A massive rising interest to the framing is caused by the entry of new construction technologies and materials, allowing the use of steel, aluminum alloys and even armed concrete instead of wood in a timber framing, as well as building houses with large floor-to-ceiling windows. The 21st century does not predict at least yet to add any new structural versions into timber framing architecture. At the same time there is a possibility to invent solid transparent supporting material for a frame. After inventing such material, building of entirely transparent timber-framing houses would become possible. The article emphasizes that framing achieved the greatest progress in monochrome cultures – Scandinavian and Germanic nations and states that culture (traditions, mentality, mode of life etc.) rather than environmental conditions is determining in the outspread of timber framing architecture. While, for instance, European settlers managed to adjust framing to severe conditions of Canada, Russian timber framing carpentry has not developed up until now. The object of the article is to determine progressive features of timber framing architecture that could be applicable in modern housing. The novelty of the research is in enhancement of approach to the study of timber framing architecture due to the use of new architectural concepts, which came to life in 2014–2015: “architecture of aurality”, “architecture of error”, “architecture as reflection of politics”, precision and accuracy ratio in architecture, designing with regard to cynology and felinology.
Keywords: Architecture, Construction, Construction Ecology, Framing, Material Science, Technology