Aesthetic diversity in wood architecture

Abstract

This thesis discusses a research/design project entitled Aesthetic Diversity in Wood Architecture. The research explores methods of workmanship and lumber sourcing toward developing architecture that maintains and expresses the aesthetic diversity of the forest. The objective of this research is to address the gap that currently exists in the discourse of architecture related to the application of intimate workmanship methods to achieve buildings that are aesthetically diverse and inherently express the conditions of a forest. Theories from David Pye and George Nakashima inform a research-creation methodology that applies hands- on workmanship methods to self-sourced lumber containing characteristics such as rot and bug holes. Through this methodology, small-to-large scale artifacts are produced, informing the design of a building sited within the northern forest context of Sudbury, Ontario.