ABSTRACT
In “The Four Elements of Architecture”, Gottfried Semper explored the material and craft significance of the hearth, mound enclosure and roof. Semper’s analysis differentiated light versus heavy material assemblies, and assigned a particular tectonic craft to each element. However, Semper asserted that it was the textile knot or joint that was the earliest and most significant tectonic element1.
The physical act of joining has been a vital mode of production. Interpretation and understanding of the joint remains essential to architecture. Semper’s insight into the textile as a woven system provides opportunities for more structurally innovative architectural solutions.
This paper will present the Neil Astle house, highlighting Astle’s expressive tectonic technique. The distinctiveness of the technique is that it utilizes standard wood members to maximize structural abilities while underscoring the essence of wood as a tectonic architectural solution.
