Hand Hewn

Hand Hewn is a gorgeous celebration of the traditions and artistry 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 a fascinating look at how the natural, organic forms of trees become the framework for a home, with 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.
An internationally renowned architect presents a gorgeous celebration of the artistry, design, and traditional craftsmanship of timber-frame buildings.
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.

"Drawing on 7,000 years of tradition, Sobon, an architect who specializes in timber-frame buildings, showcases timber-framed porches, rooms, barns, and houses - all built without hammering a single nail." -- Publishers Weekly

"Sobon has spent his career turning trees into magnificent structural frameworks for buildings that satisfy our yearning for real strength, warmth, and honesty." -- Max Jacobson, architect and coauthor of A Pattern Language and Patterns of Home

"Hand Hewn is an invitation -- through gorgeous photographs, clear drawings, and enticing text -- to follow the passion and experience of a visionary master craftsman, historian, and poet whose work and philosophy are sure to inspire you." -- Philippe Petit, high wire artist and author of Man on Wire

"An essential book for every builder -- of anything -- revealing the world of timber framing from a true master craftsman." -- Will Beemer, author of Learn to Timber Frame and director of the Heartwood School for the
Homebuilding Crafts