Product Description

The search for housing that is healthy, affordable, and environmentally responsible is leading a growing number of people to take a fresh look at building techniques long shunned by the modern construction industry. Recently, books on specific techniques such as straw-bale construction, cob or rammed earth have become available, but there has been little to introduce the reader to the entire field. The Art of Natural Building fills that void wholly by being a complete and user-friendly introduction to natural building for non-professionals as well as architects and designers. From straw bale and cob to recycled concrete and salvaged materials, this anthology of articles from leaders in the field focuses on both the practical and the aesthetic concerns of ecological building designs and techniques. Above all, this empowering guide demonstrates that anyone can design and build a home from natural materials that is beautiful, low-cost, and environmentally-sensible. Profusely illustrated, The Art of Natural Building is divided into five sections. The first provides an overview of the natural building movement from the various perspectives of sustainability, lifestyle, and health. The second section looks at planning and design, followed by a section that focuses on specific techniques and the vast variety of materials used in natural building. Next, examples of diverse natural dwellings are shared - from a Hybrid Hobbit House to a thatched studio and a cob office. Finally, complementary systems, such as solar appliances, composting toilets, and alternative power systems are covered. Packed with additional resources and a bibliography, this is the encyclopaedia of natural building!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #159683 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
All three editors are central practitioners in the natural building movement. Catherine Wanek is the publisher and editor of The Last Straw Journal. Joseph F Kennedy has expanded the boundaries of ecological architecture with NASA's space station habitability module. Michael Smith is the author of The Cob Cottage (2001), among other books.

Customer Reviews

Inspiration turned grey
Three stars is a bit harsh. This is a terriffic introduction to natural building, with hundreds of example buildings with well presented technical detail and photographs. I think this an excellent reference for those wishing to introduce themselves to many techniques of "natural building".
After so much effort has obviously been put into illustrating this book, I cannot understand why it has been printed in black and white. Virtually every page has excellent photographs and diagrams, but with the exception of a couple of token colour pages, all the photographs are a disappointing monochrome grey. I hope this book will be re-published with full colour illustration, and then someone will give it the five stars that it deserves.