Built Poetry
While watching Fine Homebuilding’s video of architect Caleb Johnson of Biddeford, Maine discuss the winner of the 2015 Best New Home award, we were struck by his profound insights into the benefits of timber framing and why we are drawn to, and love timber framing:
“Built poetry.”
“The materials go together in a fashion that you can tell he (architect Louis Kahn) cared deeply about the nature of those materials and the way they came together on a level that’s art–not just construction.”
“If we use natural materials, as time goes on, these natural materials take on a character and patina that enhances the building. Whereas when you use manufactured materials, those materials will look best the day you put them in, and they will deteriorate from there, and there’s really nothing you can do to bring them back.”
“I feel that the structure of a house can be the most expressive part of the architecture and I feel that when that structure is exposed, it’s most powerful when it’s authentic–like it’s actually bearing the load of gravity pulling the house down and the winds trying to push the house over.”
Special thanks to Shannon Richards of Caleb Johnson Architects for permitting us to reproduce Caleb’s words.
To look at their work, visit http://www.cjab.me
Finehomebuilding Presents Houses 2015 Awards: Best New Home from Caleb Johnson Studio on Vimeo.