timber framing

The market square of Dornstetten, Germany, showing an ensemble of half-timbered buildings Rue du Gros-Horloge in Rouen, France, a city renowned for its half-timbered buildings Lemgo, Germany, downtown Strasbourg, sculptures on the timber framing of a half-timbered house. Timber framing (German: Fachwerkbauweise) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs. If the structural frame of load-bearing timber is left exposed on the exterior of the building it may be referred to as half-timbered, and in many cases the infill between timbers will be used for decorative effect. The country most known for this kind of architecture is Germany, where timber-framed houses are spread all over the country.

The method comes from working directly from logs and trees rather than pre-cut dimensional lumber. Artisans or framers would gradually assemble a building by hewing logs or trees with broadaxes, adzes, and draw knives and by using woodworking tools, such as hand-powered braces (brace and bit) and augers.