Research

Timber framing in pictures Are you interested in the technology of building half-timbered structures and do you want to get started yourself? Then you're at the right place! The MOT has a long history of documenting and passing on knowledge about half-timbered construction. We work together with experienced professionals who have completed a master-apprentice program with us. We also teach half-timbering to others. Since 2017 we have been offering a timber framing internship for adults, where participants work on a real construction. Our internship was recognized as one of the inspiring examples for safeguarding intangible heritage in Flanders.  The interest in half-timberwork is clearly great and so is the demand for information. That is why the MOT decided to digitally register our own half-timbered construction projects. In this online guide we document on film step by step how half-timbered buildings are constructed in the traditional way, using only hand tools. This project is financially...

Forge marks in Belgium: search by smith's name translation under construction Hier komt u in een lijst van alle Belgische smeden/fabrikanten. Mogelijk zit hier ook een verdeler tussen. Indien u een vraagteken ziet, hebben we de smid nog niet kunnen identificeren. Aanvullingen zijn steeds welkom op info@mot.be . Soms gebeurt het dat na identificatie de smid uit het buitenland afkomstig blijkt te zijn. Ook die namen worden opgenomen. Klik op een naam om de bijhorende fiche te openen. Snel zoeken kan via de toetsencombinatie "Ctrl-F". Met de "enter"-toets kan je snel alle zoekresultaten overlopen.

Forge marks in Belgium: general search translation under construction Kies hieronder de gewenste plaatsnaam, figuur en/of periode en u krijgt de lijst van hun smidstekens. U kan ook zoeken op een zelf gekozen trefwoord. De plaatsnamen worden opgenomen in de taal die in de streek of het land gesproken word. Zo moet je bv. zoeken op “Namur” in plaats van “Namen”. Brussel en zijn gemeenten zijn in het Nederlands opgenomen. Indien u de plaatsnaam zoekt zoals het op het stuk voorkomt maakt u beter gebruik van zoek op letter.Soms gebeurt het dat na identificatie de smid uit het buitenland afkomstig blijkt te zijn. Ook die plaatsnamen worden opgenomen. Indien de periode waarin de smid werkzaam was gekend is wordt ze opgenomen in periodes per 50 jaar.

Floors  On the ground level, the floors of timber framed buildings are made of natural stone, brick or earth. On the elevated floors, they can be made in wood. Cheaper than tiled floors are earthen floors, which were common in many farms and certainly in barns. An earthen floor is not just some made by ramming earth, it requires knowledge to install it properly.

Water is vital for both people and animals, yet before the introduction of the well-known tap water, people had to resort to wells. This well water was used for a wide range of purposes: to drink, to prepare meals, to wash the dishes, to water the cattle, to clean, etc. But next to its domestic value, water was and still is a crucial component in the industry as well: just think of breweries, tanneries, ice- and lemonade factories, etc. You can also find wells in these industrial sites. Until recently, the water well was actually a very important aspect of daily life. It was only after the general distribution of modern water supplies in the second half of the twentieth century that the use of wells rapidly declined. Only a few decades ago, water well systems were still an integral part of the landscape. Unfortunately, more and more wells fell into disrepair and many of them were demolished. In many cases the well shaft remained, but the well was covered. Not only the architectural heritage...

What is timber framing? Timber framing or half-timbering is a historical predecessor of modern timber frame construction. A half-timbered building is a wooden construction of vertical posts, horizontal beams and diagonal braces. The walls of this 'skeleton' can be closed by covering a wickerwork or braid of flexible twigs or split slats with a mixture of loam and straw.  For centuries, timber framing was technically a good alternative to using brick and natural stone in large parts of Europe, including Flanders, were stone was not always available or affordable. Because it requires more maintenance than a stone structure, half-timbering was hardly used after the start of the twentieth century. Today, however, building with wood and loam is having a revival due to its ecological benefits. 

Forge marks in Belgium: search by letter translation under construction Op een werktuig kan je letters, cijfers en/of figuren aantreffen. Hier kan gezocht worden op woorden of delen van woorden zoals ze op het voorwerp aangebracht zijn.