Taking advantage of a 13-ft.

-high ceiling, Duncker designed

and built a 7-ft. high stairway and storage system that also supports
a sleeping loft in the living room of a small apartment. The unit, built
of red oak, dramatically increases the home’s usable floor space and
also provides innovative storage-from an entertainment center to a
lighted art display alcove to a mini-wine cellar.
To ensure that the casework would be strong enough to
support the weight of a second floor, Duncker constructed the 3-in.
thick wall of the unit by sandwiching 3/4-in. plywood around 2x4
studs. Because the unit covers a run of baseboard heating units, each
HandsOn Design
riser is pierced with a small aperture to vent out the rising heat.
Owner/Architect: Paul Duncker
Photos courtesy of Built-In Furniture by Jim Tolpin 1997
HandsOn Design was established in 2001 as a design/build firm in partnership
with Knoke Builders Inc. The firm provided complete design and construction services
for residential, office and institutional clients. HandsOn Design continues to provide the
full scope of architectural services to its clientele, along with limited fabrication of archi-
tectural componetry. Founded by the son of an immigrant craftsman, HandsOn Design’s
mission is to blur the distinction between art and craft through an architectural expres-
sion in which the processes of construction are not only revealed, they’re celebrated.
 WEDGE-TENON JOINT STUDY

THE FOX WEDGE

The wedge-tenon joint has been in use for centuries. It is a

very strong joint that requires no glues or hardware. This
type of joint can be used at all scales of wood construction
from house framing to hammer heads. Because the joint is
extremely strong in tension as well as compression it is an
ideal solution for transferring lateral loads in wood framed
buildings without using cross bracing.
At a smaller scale the wedge-tenon joint is often
used in furniture making. The exposed end of the joint can
be detailed very beautifully. Often wood of a different color
is used for the wedge, drawing attention to the construction
method while highlighting the natural beauty of wood.
In some instances it is not desirable to see the end
of the tenon joint. In this case what is known as a fox-wedge
can be used. The fox-wedge is identical to the wedge-tenon
except that the mortise does not continue all the way
through. This type of joint is common in attaching legs to a
table without having the legs show through the table top.
This type of joint requires a high degree of accuracy and is
permanent. By hammering the tenon into the mortise the
wedges spread the tenon and permanently bind the two
pieces of wood. Because the wedges are concealed they will
not come apart without damaging the wood. It is worth not-
ing that when using this method of joinery it is best to use
highly seasoned wood to ensure that neither the mortise
nor the tenon will shrink and loosen the joint.
BUILT-IN SITE ANALYSIS