I've had some friends ask what's been going on: I've not been updating my blog very much of late. Lots of changes have been going on, and our new Teahouse is a big part of that. I've just finished editing video of how the building came together. Now for a bit of the backstory.
Our old shed was ready to fall down when John moved into this place in 1983. John got permits to replace the old shed back in 2001. but with work on the house and work for clients, he's been too busy even to contemplate another major project.
After the summer floods, John had (and still has) no working shop. About the same time I thumbed through a book on Japanese architecture that he had, and I wistfully talked about how beautiful the teahouses were. A little gleam went on in his eyes, and he started reworking the old shed plans with a different use in mind.
After the demolition finished, his old friend and master builder Franklin Hanson came available to help with the project. John and Franklin did the structural work on the renovation of our house, and I was delighted that Franklin could come back and help again.
The video shows most of the story - with a few exceptions. Some of the construction phases, like raising the walls, happened while I was at a client's site during a day. I literally returned to find all the walls in place and sheeting done. Other phases, like putting on an incredibly beautiful metal roof, escaped the camera, too.
John and Franklin buttoned up the exterior this year, and I'm actively using the space as my meditation retreat. Next spring John plans to complete the siding and the interior walls and floor. We've already found a supplier for tatami mats, and he'll build some low tables. We're talking with some of our artist friends about commissioning pieces for the space. One of these artists is a renowned Japanese ceramics artist; the other is a sumi-e painter. I'll follow up this story as the project completes.
Our old shed was ready to fall down when John moved into this place in 1983. John got permits to replace the old shed back in 2001. but with work on the house and work for clients, he's been too busy even to contemplate another major project.
After the summer floods, John had (and still has) no working shop. About the same time I thumbed through a book on Japanese architecture that he had, and I wistfully talked about how beautiful the teahouses were. A little gleam went on in his eyes, and he started reworking the old shed plans with a different use in mind.
After the demolition finished, his old friend and master builder Franklin Hanson came available to help with the project. John and Franklin did the structural work on the renovation of our house, and I was delighted that Franklin could come back and help again.
The video shows most of the story - with a few exceptions. Some of the construction phases, like raising the walls, happened while I was at a client's site during a day. I literally returned to find all the walls in place and sheeting done. Other phases, like putting on an incredibly beautiful metal roof, escaped the camera, too.
John and Franklin buttoned up the exterior this year, and I'm actively using the space as my meditation retreat. Next spring John plans to complete the siding and the interior walls and floor. We've already found a supplier for tatami mats, and he'll build some low tables. We're talking with some of our artist friends about commissioning pieces for the space. One of these artists is a renowned Japanese ceramics artist; the other is a sumi-e painter. I'll follow up this story as the project completes.
Comments