Openings in a Log Wall The Significance of Construction Techniques to Architecture

摘要

Logs were by far the most used construction material up to the middle of the 20th century in Finland. Due to a long tradition, the construction method produced stable architectural forms. One of the main elements in log architecture was its openings. Openings always decrease the structural stability of log walls, thus the conditions set by the structure must be taken into account when considering the placement, number, form and size of openings. These factors were investigated in the railway buildings. The studied openings were situated in the middle of a wall, there was only one opening in each wall and the form of openings was rectangle. A firm vertical post structure including an integral spline made the use of relatively large openings possible. Comprehensible architecture was created through this kind of traditional constructing technique using handicraft and natural materials.