hako sen 箱栓

an exercise for Building Systems and Technologies

fall 2016

As the prompt asked us to build a Japanese joinery, we decided to work on the Hako Sen. It posed a unique challenge in that Hako sen interlocks are oriented bi-directionally across a diagonal rather than along one face. We found its tongue and groove perfectly fitting, sealed with a pin particularly elegant in its simplicity. As the cuts had to be made along two axes; we relied entirely on Japanese sawing, careful chiseling and sanding to recreate the complex joint.

Team: Ekin Bilal, Duncan Steele

Advisor: Patrick P. Charles