Digitalising a Craft

The aim of this dissertation is to model and analyse how parametric design and digitalised timber construction methods may provide a feasible alternative to the traditional methods of repairing and/or restoring sukiya style buildings in Japan.

Traditional timber craft in Japan is dying out. In a country renowned for its innovative, historical timber architecture, the unique skills and knowledge required to repair or reproduce are being lost – generation after generation. Long apprenticeships with little pay, and a more occidental, industrialised socio-economic model have made buildings by traditional Japanese carpenters a luxury. The craft needs to be protected, and better align itself with the current technological paradigm before it is lost altogether.

Through rigorous analysis of existing literature, and knowledge gained from sukiya-daiku (master carpenters), this study aims to achieve a deep-rooted understanding of the tradition before proposing a contemporary method of reproduction. The information feeds into a criteria which will be used to assess both the cases studies and proposed method. Once understood, parametric modelling using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper are used to create a contemporary system where traditional tsugite and shiguchi joints, relevant to the repair of sukiya style buildings, can be manufactured without loss of their embedded traditions and values. The process is analysed, using the pre-defined criteria, revealing the successes and short comings of the system.
Japan’s crafts have historically adapted and evolved in response to various pressures, but acceptance of the machine is often seen as a step too far. This study looks at the possibilities of the digital, to preserve a traditional craft, without forgetting the values that are so often disregarded in contemporary reinterpretations of craftmanship.

The pre-defined rating criteria allows straight-forward comparison between the case studies and the system devised as part of this study. The devised system appears to be the most successful digitalised method of producing traditional Japanese joints relevant to the repair of sukiya buildings in Japan. The rating has been hindered by the limitations of not being able to manufacture the joint – which if done successfully would certainly increase the rating further. The devised system shows a higher awareness of the embedded traditions evident in the traditional hand-crafted joinery.