Timbercraft: Lost Tectonics from East Asia Explores 1,400 Years of Wooden Architecture

The publication 'Timbercraft: Lost Tectonics from East Asia' revisits the enduring legacy of traditional East Asian construction. Written by architect and researcher Jae K Kim, the book spans over 1,400 years and examines nine iconic buildings across China, Japan, and Korea. It traces the evolution of sophisticated timber systems through interlocking components, bracket complexes, and intricate joinery. The book makes this complex knowledge accessible through original analytical drawings, section perspectives, exploded axonometric views, and assembly studies. These illustrations reveal both the technical precision of structures that have endured for centuries and the spatial, cultural, and material ideas embedded within them. Essays provide historical and theoretical context, examining the craftsmanship, values, and structural intelligence that shaped the tradition. Published on August 26, 2026, the book is available in English and Spanish, with the cover photograph by Rick Keus. The work highlights a renewed interest in timber as a transformative material in contemporary architectural practice, drawing on historical precedents to inform modern design.