Timber Joinery Database: Documenting and Designing Traditional and Contemporary Wood-Wood Connections in a Teaching Environment Utilizing an Online OER Platform

The rapid advancements in technology call for a new approach to disseminating knowledge, emphasizing inclusivity, open accessibility, and collaborative intelligence. This shift towards an inclusive, open-source community facilitates global online connections that enhance the exchange of techniques and knowledge, further enabled by digital planning tools integrating design and execution seamlessly. Such advancements have revived interest in timber joints, combining traditional craftsmanship with digital design and manufacturing innovations. The Timber Joinery Database was established to preserve and expand this heritage by creating an open-source online platform for documenting both traditional and innovative timber joints. The development of the database included the structuring, design and technical conception as well as the integration of the first entries for evaluation. This work allows for the continuous implementation of joint analyses, developments and physical models production, bridging traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing methods. As the database evolves, it is enriched with more parameters and a parametric framework to cater to user-specific customization needs, ensuring the project's relevance and application in current and future timber joinery practices. This initiative represents a blend of tradition and innovation, leveraging digital tools and open-source principles to advance the field of timber joinery.