Chris Kuehnel will join us from Centreville Settlement in Sheboygan County, where he is restoration director at the National Registered Lutze Housebarn, the last remaining Saxon German ‘fachwerk’ housebarn left in the Americas. Built in 1847 to 1851 it exactly matches the 3 1⁄2 story floor plan approved by the King of Saxony at the time.

His presentation will focus on timber framing, specifically Saxon German half-timber design and implementation, with the contrasts to Pomeranian construction. The Lutze Housebarn project has focused on teaching the skills used in the original construction, as well as the repair techniques. Chris has experience with all the hand tools used in the 1800s for timber construction, as well as using clay as infill, and stone masonry. Lots of photos and their progress story will be shared. The audience will have time for Q&A.