At first glance, this could easily be mistaken for a piece of modern artwork.
A collection of angles, lines and geometric shapes that wouldn’t look out of place on an album cover.
In reality, it forms part of our apprentice’s Advanced Craft Carpentry & Joinery studies, exploring the geometry of Complex Roofs, hidden behind many buildings we see every day.
Before a roof can be built, it first has to be understood.
Apprentices must learn to visualise hips, valleys, intersections and changing roof planes long before timber is ever cut.
Every line on this drawing represents a problem to solve, a measurement to calculate and a structure to understand.
It’s a reminder that construction is not simply about working with your hands.
It’s also about developing the ability to think in three dimensions.
Because behind every skilled craftsperson is an understanding of the geometry that makes great buildings possible.
