Structure and Expression. New findings on timber joints, and inspiration for architects and other professionals in the field of timber construction. Illustrated with images, plans, and drawings.

Wood has a centuries-long tradition as well a huge potential for future use as a highly versatile building material. Crafting Wood: Structure and Expression presents newly gained knowledge on timber construction and on timber joints in particular.

This book, which is illustrated with plans, sketches, and photographs, emerged from an international educational cooperation of the University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU in Trondheim, and the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam. The program treated a vast range timber joints from diverse theoretical and practical aspects. Students conceived and made by hand new joints that were then applied in prototypes for entire structures, designed also as part of the course, at a scale of 1:5. The volume analyzes this learning process and offers a new introduction to the topic of timber joints in architecture through text and images.

With contributions by Bjorn Otto Braaten, Arnstein Gilberg, Niels Groeneveld, Haakon Haanes, Annemariken Hilberink, Tibor Joanelly, Cathrine Johansen Haanes, Urs Meister, Mario Rinke, Carmen Rist-Stadelmann, August Schmidt, Jan Siem, Machiel Spaan, Harm Tilman, and Klaus Zwerger.


Carmen Rist-Stadelmann is a lecturer and directs the master’s program at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Machiel Spaan teaches at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, where he is also a founding partner with architectural firm M3H. Urs Meister is a professor of design and construction at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, and a founding partner of Zurich-based Käferstein & Meister Architects.

Structure and Expression. New findings on timber joints, and inspiration for architects and other professionals in the field of timber construction. Illustrated with images, plans, and drawings.

Wood has a centuries-long tradition as well a huge potential for future use as a highly versatile building material. Crafting Wood: Structure and Expression presents newly gained knowledge on timber construction and on timber joints in particular.

This book, which is illustrated with plans, sketches, and photographs, emerged from an international educational cooperation of the University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU in Trondheim, and the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam. The program treated a vast range timber joints from diverse theoretical and practical aspects. Students conceived and made by hand new joints that were then applied in prototypes for entire structures, designed also as part of the course, at a scale of 1:5. The volume analyzes this learning process and offers a new introduction to the topic of timber joints in architecture through text and images.

With contributions by Bjorn Otto Braaten, Arnstein Gilberg, Niels Groeneveld, Haakon Haanes, Annemariken Hilberink, Tibor Joanelly, Cathrine Johansen Haanes, Urs Meister, Mario Rinke, Carmen Rist-Stadelmann, August Schmidt, Jan Siem, Machiel Spaan, Harm Tilman, and Klaus Zwerger.


Carmen Rist-Stadelmann is a lecturer and directs the master’s program at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Machiel Spaan teaches at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, where he is also a founding partner with architectural firm M3H. Urs Meister is a professor of design and construction at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, and a founding partner of Zurich-based Käferstein & Meister Architects.