"Architectural Terminology/Reference Question..." Topic

Could someone please tell me the proper way to refer to the style of architecture that used exposed timbers and stucco (mud?)? Wattle and..??? Tudor? (I'm pretty familiar with Tudor style architecture though--have several books on it and realize that the style described above was utilized in Tudor architecture).

Thanks for your help!

Wattle and Daub is the term you seem to be searching for.

Sterling

The term I'm most familiar with for this style is "timber-frame". There are many regional and even local varients to be sure, but this applies generally to houses built up with a stout frame of wood, then in-filled with something to close the gap and covered over with stucco. In places where good clay for brick making was at hand, the gap could be filled with brick. The term "wattle and daub" would usually refer to an earlier building style where the gaps between the frame members were filled with interlaced withies and then covered with mud or stucco. Timber-frame technique would not be confined to the Tudor period.

Wattle-and-daub refers to wicker-work structures plastered over (usually with mud).

What Dantes Cellar is asking about is half-timbered construction. It is often seen (though only in imitation form) on Tudor revival buildings in the US, though it also appears on Germanic revival buildings.

I think it's called fachwerk in German, if I remember correctly. But it's been a long time since I studied German language and culture in college.

That is correct, Fachwerk in German, Vakwek in Dutch, which in confusing, because it roughly translates in sectionalised work, which makes sense, or points to a craft or trade, so you could think it meant professionally built or so – also wrong. Both Fach and Vak are from a forgotten word for wickerwork, so actually points to wattle and daub.

In many parts of Germany I have seen rocks used instead of whattle. Bricks were too expensive till way after the Middle Ages.

Daub can be anything that is used over the wattle to close in the gaps. Mud on its own is useless but clay mixed with cut straw, dung and lime was the usual fill in late medieval times.

Also there is little evidence that the timber was as exposed as in modern buildings, certainly in Britain this only became fashionable in the later 17th century. Prior to that the daub was probably taken flush with the timbers and the whole lot whitewashed over for wether protection.

Plastering was expensive and usually only seen on higher status buildings. Medieval plaster was lime and sand (lime putty) but with some other stuff thrown in for good measure – you guessed it, more dung.

Tony H

Half-timber?

Yup, half-timber. Timber frame is apparently the new term for the same thing.

It's often called "Stockbroker Tudor" when revived for upscale housing in the US during the early decades of the 20th Century.

Timber frame is the general term, half-timber is where the frame is left showing instead of plastered over. Most of the 20th Century US stuff is strictly decorative boards applied to the exterior of a balloon frame structure.

Thank you all so much for the wealth of information. Not only was I able to find the term (terms, actually) that I was looking for, I learned a lot about the process and materials used. Gotta' love TMP and the great folks who contribute. ;-}~