[Greenbuilding] Re; The 500 year old house

[Ken Beiser]

I think it is important to have architecturally significant designs so the building will be cared for and therefore last longer.  I also believe that adaptable designs are important and will be even more so in the near future.  A timber framer colleague (Tedd Benson of Bensonwood Homes) is designing his floor systems and overall homes so there is easy access to the mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, ducts) for changes and upgrades.  Stewart Brand in his book, "How Buildings Learn" gave a favorable nod to timber frame structures since they can be designed to be easily adapted to future requirements.   I have been trying to keep that in mind in my projects.

The old wood structures of Europe and elsewhere are commonly timber frame.  That is why I got into this part of building...and of course the great people I have met along the way.  We may not all be Green timber home builders and are definitely not as Green as I would like but we are on the right path or at least a better path than mainstream.  Visit the Timber Framers Guild website sometime and I think you'll get the same feeling.

www.tfguild.org

Ken
Western Woodwrights
Whitefish, MT