The Art of Natural Building-Second Edition-Completely Revised, Expanded and Updated
Design, Construction, Resources
by Joseph F. Kennedy, Michael G. Smith and Catherine Wanek
The popularity of natural building has grown by leaps and bounds, spurred by a grassroots desire for housing that is healthy, affordable and environmentally responsible. While there are many books available on specific methods such as strawbale construction, cob or timber framing, few other resources introduce the reader to the entire scope of this burgeoning field.
Fully revised and updated, The Art of Natural Building is the complete and user-friendly introduction to natural building for everyone from do-it-yourselfers to architects and designers. This collection of articles from 60 leaders in the field is stunningly illustrated with over 400 photos of natural buildings from around the world. At 465 pages, this massive resource is over 50% longer than the original edition. Out of 64 chapters, 26 are new to this edition, and nearly all of the rest have been completely revised to reflect recent developments. Learn about:
- The case for building with natural materials, from the perspectives of sustainability, lifestyle and health
- What you need to know to plan and design your own beautiful and efficient natural home
- Explanations of thirty versatile materials and techniques, each with and up-to-date resource list of where to go for further information and training
- How these techniques are being used to address housing crises around the world, with 12 case studies from China to Argentina.
Clearly written, logically organized and beautifully illustrated The Art of Natural Building is the encyclopedia of natural building.
Click here to view an excerpt and here to see the table of contents.
About the Authors
Joseph F. Kennedy cofounded Builders Without Borders, an international consortium of natural builders and architects serving homeless and under-housed populations. He teaches ecological design and natural building at New College of California, and co-edited The Art of Natural Building.
Michael Smith is the author of The Cob Cottage (Chelsea Green, 2001), among other books.
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. 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, a 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.