Since the early 20th century, traditional East Asian architecture has faced the threat of extinction. Traditional timber-framed buildings in East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea have been increasingly replaced by new building systems like reinforced concrete and steel frames. Moreover, globalization has blurred the boundaries between countries, leading to the absorption of regional architectural characteristics into a single, contemporary paradigm. This phenomenon has resulted in the gradual erosion of the distinct realm that traditional East Asian architecture has occupied for millennia.
Obstacles to modernizing East Asian timber-framed buildings include, firstly, the insufficiency of timber, the primary construction material, which limits its viability in large-scale projects. Secondly, traditional construction methods are often inefficient compared to modern building techniques. Lastly, the lack of standardization for building elements, particularly the complex joinery systems like the bracket system, hinders industrialization and wider adoption.
However, the emergence of advanced computer techniques and digital fabrication presents intriguing and challenging new possibilities for the future of East Asian traditional architecture. These tools can facilitate innovative design, fabrication, and construction methods, potentially revitalizing and reinventing the ancient timber frame system for a new era.
The "Timbercraft" agenda exemplifies this potential for reinvention. It consists of two parts:
Historical analysis: This research delves into the history of timber-framed buildings in China, Japan, and Korea, focusing on the evolution of bracket systems in each region. Through comparative studies, the research aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical development and variations of these systems.
Design projects: The "Tree Series" project reinterprets the traditional bracket system through the lens of computational design and digital fabrication. This series of research and built works seeks to establish a novel approach to reinventing and evolving the traditional wooden structural system for contemporary design and construction.
