Weilburger Straße 10, Braunfels
A prime example of a half-timbered decoration is the man figure. The man figure, which is made of braces and struts, bears a resemblance to an abstract figure of a man with arms stretched and its legs spread apart.
Headbands are short diagonal braces that are mortised from the frame halfway down to the vertical post or stand. If triangular pieces of wood are used instead of headbands, they are called head angle pieces.
Foot bands, on the other hand, are short diagonal braces that are mortised from the sill halfway up to the vertical post or stand. If triangular pieces of wood are used instead of foot bands, they are called foot angle pieces. Foot angle pieces are used as decoration on facades.
Head braces are short struts that extend diagonally from the sill to the vertical post or stand. They form the arms of a man figure.
Foot braces extend diagonally from the sill to the vertical post or stand. They, on the other hand, form the legs. If the foot braces are three-quarters of a story-high struts, they form the legs of the Hessenmann.
To illustrate this, the facade of the two-story half-timbered house at Weilburger Straße 10 in Braunfels, Germany, has Hessenmann figures on both stories.
Braces and struts are not just decorations; they strengthen the house, preventing the wall and roof from collapsing sideways. They also straighten the structure.
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Beautiful pics! Brilliant idea! Informative! Looking at the pics automatically makes you feel that you are right there in front of the building….or is it “just my imagination running away with me”? Loved it! Great work.
Very beautiful pictures and superb descriptions. Thanks for taking your time to make such beautiful presentations.