This completely revised and updated encyclopedic resource is a must-read for anyone interested in building beautiful, low-cost, environmentally sensible structures. This stunningly illustrated collection from over 50 leading voices illuminates dozens of eco-friendly building techniques, and explains best practices for ecological design. A brand new section showcases applications of natural building techniques to address affordable housing around the world.
Table of Contents:
Foreword to the First Edition by Albert Bates
Foreword to the Second Edition by Bill Steen
Acknowledgments
Introduction: An Open Door by Michael G. Smith
Part One: The Context for Natural Building
1. The Case for Natural Building by Michael G. Smith
2. Natural Building: A Global Tradition by Catherine Wanek
3. The Importance of Housing Ourselves by Ianto Evans
4. Natural Building and Social Justice by Rob Bolman
5. Sustainability and Building Codes by David Eisenberg
6. Can My Natural Home Get a LEED Rating? by Joseph F. Kennedy and Ann V. Edminster
7. Life-Cycle Cost and Value of Four Houses by David A. Bainbridge
8. In Defense of Craft by Patrick Webb
Part Two: Design and Planning
9. Designing for Vitality by Carol Venolia
10. The Healthy House by Paula Baker-Laporte
11. Eighteen Design Principles to Make Square Feet Work Harder by Robert Gay
12. Designing with the Sun by Susie Harrington
13. Natural Building for Cold Climates by Jacob Deva Racusin
14. Hybrid Homes: Combining Natural Materials for Energy Efficiency by Catherine Wanek and Michael G. Smith
15. Remodeling with Natural Materials by Joseph F. Kennedy and Janine Björnson
16. Siting a Natural Building by Michael G. Smith
17. The Permaculture House by Peter Bane
18. Complementary Systems for Energy-Efficient Homes by Michael G. Smith
19. Regenerative Building: An Ecological Approach by Michael G. Smith
20. Building the Natural Village: A Strategy for Repairing Cities by Mark Lakeman
Part Three: Natural Building Materials and Techniques
21. Natural Building Materials: An Overview by Joseph F. Kennedy
22. Foundations for Natural Buildings by Michael G. Smith
23. Stone Masonry by Michael G. Smith
24. Adobe Building by Paul G. McHenry
25. A Brief History of Cob Building by Michael G. Smith
26. Rammed Earth: From Pisé to PISE by Scott Grometer
27. Compressed Earth Blocks by Hubert Guillaud
28. Building with Earthbags by Joseph F. Kennedy and Kelly Hart
29. Digging in for Comfort by Kelly Hart
30. Cordwood Masonry: An Overview by Rob Roy
31. Straw Bale Building: Lessons Learned by Catherine Wanek
32. Building with Hemp by Tom Woolley
33. Light-Clay: An Introduction to German Clay Building Techniques by Frank Andresen
34. Wattle and Daub by Joseph F. Kennedy
35. The Evolution of Timber Framing by Steve Chappell
36. The Art of Timber Framing by Devin Smith
37. Small-Diameter Roundwood: An Underused Building Material by Owen Geiger
38. Bamboo Construction by Darrel DeBoer
39. Waste Not, Want Not: Building with Trash by Joseph F. Kennedy
40. Earthships: An Ecocentric Model by Jack Ehrhardt
41. Papercrete: Homes from Waste Paper by Barry Fuller
42. Roofs for Natural Building by Joseph F. Kennedy
43. Green Roofs with Sod, Turf or Straw by Paul Lacinski, Michel Bergeron and John Swearingen
44. Thatching Comes to America by Deanne Bednar
45. Natural Insulation by Joseph F. Kennedy and Michael G. Smith
46. Rice Hulls for Insulation by Catherine Wanek and Paul Olivier
47. Earthen Floors by Sukita Reay Crimmel and James Thomson
48. Earth Plasters and Alis by Carole Crews
49. Working with Lime by Barbara Jones
50. Natural Paints and Finishes by Janine Björnson
Part Four: Building the Global Village
51. Shelter and Sustainable Development by Susan Klinker
52. Sustainable Building as Appropriate Technology by David A. Bainbridge
53. Woodless Construction in the Sahel by John Norton
54. Straw Bales in China: Housing for the People by Catherine Wanek and Kelly Lerner
55. Improving Vernacular Housing in Western China by Liu Yang, Jiaping Liu and David A. Bainbridge
56. PAKSBAB: Seismically Safe Straw Bale Homes in Pakistan by Catherine Wanek
57. Earthen Building Comes to Thailand by Janell Kapoor
58. Natural Building Thrives in Argentina by Max Edleson
59. Builders Without Borders by Catherine Wanek
60. Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities by Joseph F. Kennedy
61. Tlholego Village: A Sustainable Community in South Africa by Paul Cohen
62. Building with Earth in Auroville by Hilary Smith and Satprem Maïni
63. Friland: Affordable Housing in Community by Lars Keller and Joanna Morandin
64. Evolving a Village Vernacular in Missouri by Mark Mazziotti
Index
About the Author :
Joseph F. Kennedy studied earth building with architect Nader Khalili and helped him found CalEarth in 1991. He promotes earth and other natural building methods as a teacher, designer and builder. He is co-editor of The Art of Natural Building and Building Without Borders . Joseph currently teaches at the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, California.
Michael G. Smith helped found The Cob Cottage Company in 1993. He has taught hundreds of hands-on workshops in cob, strawbale, natural floors and plasters, earthen ovens, and many other natural building techniques. He is the author of The Cobber's Companion and co-author of The Hand-Sculpted House . Michael has designed and built nearly fifty small cob and hybrid natural homes. He enjoys sharing his expertise with owner-builders around the world.
Catherine Wanek is a cofounder of Builders Without Borders. A passionate advocate of natural building techniques for over two decades, she is the author and photographer of The Hybrid House and The New Straw Bale Home , and co-editor of The Art of Natural Building . She also produced the videos, The Strawbale Solution , the Building With Straw video series, and Urban Permaculture . Catherine is the owner of the Black Range Lodge, an historic bed-and-breakfast inn located in the mountains of southwest New Mexico, which is becoming known as a center for ecological building and healthy living.
Review :
"The Art of Natural Building — Second Edition is an epic adventure through the world of natural building. No stone is left unturned in presenting the beauty, inclusiveness, human, socially and environmentally responsible world of building with what the earth gives us, where we are. As a whole, it's a bit overwhelming — so much to take in — and yet each subject is complete within itself. The spirit of this book is attuned to its subject — gentle, simple, embracing, humble, caring, and infused with love for each other, our communities, and the earth. It's really about creating a humane world, a beacon to guide us through difficult times."
— Bill Hutchins, founder/principal, Helicon Works Architects
"This is a book to live your life by — to improve your life in every aspect. No single problem is overlooked, from global warming to the imbalance of wealth and poverty. [This book] draws from a variety of tried-and-true methods while bringing us into today's world — anyone, anywhere can build an affordable home from the practical details in this volume."
— Marion Bridge, author, Passion for Earth: Earth Houses in New Zealand
"This is a well-illustrated and comprehensive, wide-ranging book on many methods and aspects of natural building, drawing on materials from many parts of the world and written by prominent practitioners and proponents. It will be much anticipated by those who are either keen to promote natural building, or who are simply wishing to find out a whole lot more about it, what it means, and to see a whole range of examples. If you want to learn about the state of natural building today, I suggest that you grab a copy."
— Graeme North, chair, Earth Building Association of New Zealand
"A magnificent collection from the natural building all-stars. If you're looking for the collective wisdom of the entire tribe, you'll find it gathered here. Don't build a home without it."
— Bruce King, engineer and author, and founder, BuildWellLibrary.org
"Experienced practitioners Wanek, Kennedy and Smith's Art of Natural Building (second edition) is a tour de force, providing a veritable encyclopedia of ecologically sound, healthy building designs constructed out of a remarkable range of locally available natural materials. Readers will be inspired to action by the 64 case examples written by many of the world's leading natural building innovators, enriched with 200 illuminating visuals. This is a go-to resource that should be prominently featured on every public and private library shelf."
— Michael P Totten, Senior Fellow, Rocky Mountain Institute
"The first edition of The Art of Natural Building blew me away. Part practical manual, part radical manifesto for a reimagining of construction, part rich immersion in a global movement rooted in craftsmanship, beauty and place. Every home in these pages is a work of heart. As Naomi Klein put it recently, "there are no non-radical solutions left". This book is packed with radical solutions, yet solutions which build community, bring beauty (yes, I'll use that word again) into our lives, and leave us happier, healthier and more skilled. I love it. I'm sure you will too."
— Rob Hopkins, founder, Transition Town movement and author, The Power of Just Doing Stuff
"It's great to have a new edition of this classic treasure-chest of information on natural building. Most of the space enclosures built in the 20th century were toxic energy hogs; this book points the way to sustainable, comfortable, and beautiful alternatives."
— Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute and author, Afterburn
"Not only a rich and mouthwatering menu of natural building techniques, this up-to-date guidebook allows you to savor the advice and wisdom of an international collection of experts and practitioners in this evolving field, critical to our collective future. With chapters on how to get a permit or a LEED rating, design for your climate, and apply building science to buildings of dirt and straw, along with a whole new section of sage experience from case studies worldwide, this book is a go-to guide for new and seasoned natural building enthusiasts."
— Laura Bartels, president, GreenWeaver and board president, Colorado Straw Bale Association
"The Art of Natural Building lays out historical context for how buildings are constructed around the world, in various climates, using various indigenous materials. This book remains a valuable resource for any natural building library, with many updates from the first edition. The focus is not a how-to guide, but rather imparting inspiration, showing what is possible when you build naturally."
— Sigi Koko, principal and founder, Down to Earth Design
"The Art of Natural Building provides a thoughtful, accessible compilation of natural building materials and methods, while also exploring the cultural, economic and sociological aspects of community and the built environment. The comprehensive scope, along with practical tips, ideas, examples and case studies make this new edition a valuable resource for professionals, communities and individuals interested in natural building. It is an informative, interesting and inspiring read that also sparks new ideas and invites reflection. I highly recommend perusing, reading and frequently revisiting this insightful, helpful book."
— Dr. Lisa Wipplinger, SE, LEED AP BD+C
