April 14, Timber frame construction complete!

Today Wild Rose Timberworks completed the assembly of the timber frame for the Buddha House. Today they put together the section for the porch. This was made of oak instead of the white pine, since it will be outdoors. The craftsmanship is just remarkable. Next, the side walls of the main section will be made, windows installed, and the roof constructed. 

 

 

April 12, 2011: Timberframe Construction for the Buddha House Begins!

Today was a beautiful and exciting spring day - perfect for the first day of the timber frame construction of the Buddha Temple! We hired Wild Rose Timberworks, from Decorah, Iowa, to hand-build the main structure of the Buddha Temple. Wild Rose Timberworks is a group of craftsmen who are expert in the traditional method of timber frame construction. The wooden beams are cut from local timber, and are hand planed, hand joined, and is assembled using hand split wooden pegs. Then they are brought to the site and lifted into place using a crane. The whole process was fascinating to and exciting to watch. Their craftsmanship is incredible.

Enjoy some photos and videos of Day 1 of the Timber-framing. To be continued in a few days....

Precut, hand planed logs arrive, ready to be assembled

Crane is used to lift them to the foundation

Beautiful assembly work

Kunzang is given the honor to drive in the first peg.

Hand split pegs are used to join the timbers together

Heart shaped cloud with rainbow ring appears

First roof rafter for the main section

 

Spring & Summer of 2010: Foundation completed

In the spring of 2010, we completed the foundation, which included the use of reclaimed local stone. In this area of north-east Iowa, there is a predominance of limestone and sandstone, which was used to make many of the old farmhouses. We contacted a custom stone mason in Decorah, Iowa, who had collected a large amount of stone pieces from an old farmhouse that was demolished. He built the beautiful stonework around the perimeter of the foundation.

Spring of 2010

Fall 2010: the foundation is sealed for the winter.

Fall 2009: The Foundation for the Temple begins

Based on the design drawings from Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche, we began the construction of the foundation in the fall of 2009. The temple was designed after the Buddhist temples in South-east Asia. The small temple would include a walkway around the perimeter of the temple, and there would be a porch extending out form the main entrance with a large bell hanging from the roof. Pilgrims could approach the temple from the porch, ring the bell, and do circumambulation around the perimeter of the temple.