TFG Events & Workshops

Adam Miller

Adam Miller is an independent carpenter and consultant specializing in timber and log framing. His practice ranges from practical, vernacular projects in the New England square-rule tradition to complicated, innovative works that push the boundaries of organic-form scribing. A frequent presenter at Timber Framers Guild conferences, Adam has also given presentations to the Carpenter’s Fellowship (UK), Stolpverk Norden (the Scandinavian timber framing association), and the Kominka Collective (Japan). His articles have appeared in Log Building News, The Mortice and Tenon (UK), Northern Woodlands, Scantlings, and Timber Framing, the technical journal of the Timber Framers Guild; he has served as co-editor of the latter since 2018. Adam teaches introductory and advanced curricula for the Heartwood School, the Timber Framers Guild Community Building Projects program, Bard College, and in private instruction. Adam lives in the hills of Vermont, travels widely for interesting projects, and recently cofounded Kominka North America, dedicated to the adaptive reuse of salvaged Japanese timber frames.

Presentation

Scribing with Wild Timber
Using timbers that retain their wild nature (round, forked, flitch-sawn, etc.) can be an opportunity for bridging the divide between natural and built environments. This session will present numerous examples of layout and marking procedures for working with wild timber, including a few that don't require scribing.

Welcome to Bamfield! A Community Building Project
This year's Community Building Project in the Vancouver Island (British Columbia) village of Bamfield was an ambitious undertaking. Featuring massive western red cedar timbers and round log posts, this cathedral-like building contains unreasonable feats of wood alchemy and creative design. Come learn the story behind this magnificent frame, how we created it with 60 people in just a few weeks, and explore the challenges we navigated to make it happen.

The Why and How of Adaptive Reuse of Traditional Japanese Timber Structures
Traditional Japanese buildings are under threat from a number of factors in contemporary Japanese society. This panel discussion will outline these issues and focus on efforts to conserve traditional structures through adaptive reuse, both in Japan and abroad.