If this book has a flaw, it is that it reads too much like an advertisement for East Wind, Inc., the timber framing company whose work is featured in the book. That said, there is enough technical and philosophical discussion to make this an excellent companion volume to, say, Heino Engel’s Measure and Construction of the Japanese House.

This book is no DIY manual, but there is more than enough information to make this book a valuable addition to the library of an armchair architect or timber framing student.

Rating: 5 / 5

Lenny’s main focus since returning to the US has been creating a synthesis of Traditional Japanese design and modern western living. His idea was that although the function and form of Japanese style is perfect in its own right, today it is not suitable for most westerners who can afford the outrageous costs of construction.

Most westerners do not want a Spartan home devoid of furniture that requires sitting on the floor (though it is much healthier), or a house that stays rather cold in the winter. They also want modern conveniences like a quality western kitchen as opposed to a fire pit and a proper bath/shower. Lenny has taken all these considerations and created a building style that retains traditional construction methods, aesthetics, and detail that meets the western standard.

The book is filled with high quality color photos detailing his buildings, and mostly focuses on a large guest house he built in California with superb detail. I should also note Lenny, I believe, is the first designer to incorporate AutoCad into this type of design, and his clients receive a detailed silk bound book of the plans before construction.

The section talking about wood is worth the price of the book alone. Lenny is a master (of many things) wood connoisseur and an avid collector of outstanding pieces. He maintains a large collection of various woods that offer different properties and visuals, and employs them where appropriate in his construction to show off their unique qualities. The Japanese have been hip to wood quality for a long time, but the western market has been slow to catch on. The best wood for the joinery and timber frame construction is Hinoki, known locally as Port Orford Cedar. This is a soft and warm wood that is very workable.

Lenny also shows off his incredible tool collection and demonstrates their use in creating the highly intricate joinery, for which he is a true master. One interesting thing is that the Japanese hand plane can shave the wood so fine, that Hinoki produces a glass-like smooth surface and is therefore never sanded or stained but left to cure and darken naturally. The results are truly magical, and the book illustrates this through countless examples.

You can check out Lenny’s website at http://www.eastwindinc.com This is easily my favorite book on the subject and I have given many copies to friends over the years. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 5 / 5

This book is a splendid outline of not only how a traditional Japanese home is designed but how it is built from the ground up. No detail is too small and the knowledge about how the wood used is collected and prepared for use will leave you with a great deal of respect for the materials used and the craftsmen who work with them. Home built in this style will last for centuries.

I doubt I will ever actually build a home with these materials, the place I live would not be friendly to an exposed wood frame, but the style tips and information have been invaluable. A must for any lover of great architecture.
Rating: 5 / 5