Kinnear Woodland Hills, entrance mill work

Chase Joyce Dunn Theater, dome cover added

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There are many request from musician that they wanted to cover the ring to protect from rain for performance. This was against my design point of view but I also understood their reason so we made dome that will make minimum sound reflect and installed. Main focus for manufacturing was how to be water proof, we made groove in any fitting can be water leak concern and placed Hanno tape, then placed 5 layer of RV repair paint on top that match the color of roof single.

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BC Wood GBM Whistler

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BC Wood GBM in Sep 8th to 10th were successfully done. My presentation to Architect was focused on why and how timber twist, and how we can control. Also Gluelam to kiln dry timber comparison in size and length were made clear what is optimal size to use in design with timber for public building design.

 

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Bonsai event

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As a part of fund raising for Japan Tsunami Relief, we joined this Bonsai event held in Japanese Bonsai Garden Surrey. Event was very successful, lots of Bonsai lovers got together and great demonstration and Taiko drum performance were truly touched performance. We prepared 6 benches and 8 blocks to donate and all sold in this event. We have three gate left to sale to raise funds, gate are dispalyed at Japanese Bonsai Garden,  16164 24th Avenue Surrey, BC.

Thanks for all volunteers.

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Project profile: lighthouse cabin

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from Daizen News, 1 Oct 2011

This three-story timber framed getaway, inspired by traditional Japanese carpentry, was designed by Karl Willms (willmsdesign.com), a strategic partner to Daizen.

Inward-leaning corner posts make a very strong structure, especially for a tall building.

In the Japanese model for this building—like a bell housing atop a temple—the four lengthwise planes of the corner posts are not square timbers, but instead intersect in a diamond shape. The diamond angles are carefully calculated so that once the timber ends are leveled horizontally, those ends are square. The horizontal plane is then entirely plumb and square for best connection to intersecting joinery and finish material.

There were no public roads to the site: all materials were transported by boat and raised by human power!

None of the raising team complained about the hard work of a hand raising. We all enjoyed the experience, in part because we could see the results of our work right away.

None of the raising team complained about the hard work of a hand raising. We all enjoyed the experience, in part because we could see the results of our work right away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Timber and steel–a robust marriage

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from Daizen News 1 Oct 2011

In look, feel, and function, steel and timber

blend very well. Steel is, after all, derived from naturally-occurring

materials. And its strength is a welcome assist to challenging loads. In the

image below, a steel tension rod adds support to a hammer-beam truss.

Where the tension occurs in a joint, steel is

often used to meet the structural load demand. Steel placed to help bear loads

also presents an opportunity to include some unique detail, if desired.

Several tools and materials further support the melding of steel and timber.

CNC technology provides laser cut capabilities to shape the steel plate, with

precise, free-curve cuts that enhance design potential.  And giving the

steel a black powder coat results in superior contrast and “finish” to the

ruddy tones of wooden posts and beams.

Incorporating structural steel is not for the faint-hearted, though. Of key importance is the actual steel to wood connection, especially when using a steel tension rod.

It’s not possible to align steel plate holes to the timber holes unless there are tolerances. If the holes don’t line up, the thread on the ready rod may scratch at the edge of the steel hole.

To avoid this, we do a dry fit of the timber to the plate  before drilling the holes on the steel plate. This is easily done with a magnet drill.

Since the timber is the more active material (shrinking, etc.), it’s best to get the timber frame fabricator to control these steel plate connections. If you separate these components, the chance of a resulting tolerance issue is very high.

 

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Building wisdom 15 Sep 2011

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from Daizen News, 15 Sep 2011

継 続 は 力 な り

Keizoku wa chikara nari.

Literally: Continuance is power.

Meaning: Just staying the course will generate vigor. Continuing on after a setback is its own kind of strength. Perseverance is power.

wikimedia commons

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“Help Japan” Bonsai event

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from Daizen News, 15 Sep 2011

We continue to seek out opportunities to bring aid to the people of Japan. Six months after the Fukushima disasters, children are afraid of even puddles of water. Amidst the confusion, efforts persist to move vulnerable communities to higher ground and rebuild the fishing industry.

Help us help them, at a spectacular event in Surrey, Saturday, October 1. It’s a bonsai sale, but it’s also a silent auction, multi-performance, bonsai workshop, ikebana workshop, tea service, and opportunity to see other Japan rescue items like the Daizen Joinery torii gates.

The day’s events include the opening ceremony, a Japanese Lion Dance by Rakuichi, Bonsai workshop, Taiko and Koto drum performances by Sansho-Daiko and Kozue Matsumoto, and sign language performance by Tzu-Chi of Canada. Raffles and silent auctions add to the fun, and our fund-raising gates will be there in the flesh (in the fibre?).

Japan Bonsai Garden is hosting the event; co-sponsors so far include Daizen Joinery, Vancouver Rakuichi, Raku Tei Juku, and San Sho. For more information, see www.japanbonsai.com.

Tak Yamaura demonstrating bonsai.

Come to Japan Bonsai Garden Art, 16164 24th Ave. in Surrey, on October 1. Drink in the art of Japan and help the Japanese people recover.

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Notes from the Global Buyers Mission

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from Daizen News, 15 Sep 2011

On September 8, Dai talked to architects and engineers at BC Wood’s Global Buyers Mission on wood distortion. He explained the process of how and why timbers twist as well as how to manage and even prevent that twist.

He covered the mechanics of twist (in beam, below) and shear (in pegs, below). Finally, Dai compared the price of kiln-dried timber to that of gluelam, to inform choices for optimal size and length in timber frame design. Of course, he showed plenty of example projects.

The talk went well; by their comments afterwards, the audience seemed to enjoy this vital information.

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