The Art of Natural Building-Second Edition-Completely Revised, Expanded and Updated: Design, Construction, Resources

by Joseph F. Kennedy (Editor), Michael G. Smith (Editor), Catherine Wanek (Editor)

Overview

The original, complete, user—friendly introduction to natural building, now fully revised and updated

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 straw—bale construction, cob, or timber framing, there are few resources which 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 the do—it—yourselfer to architects and designers. This collection of articles from over fifty leaders in the field is now stunningly illustrated with over two—hundred full—color photographs of natural buildings from around the world. 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, with resources on where to go for further information on each
• How these techniques are being used to address housing crises around the world.

Clearly written, logically organized, and beautifully illustrated, The Art of Natural Building is the encyclopedia of natural building.

Joseph F. Kennedy is a designer, builder, writer, artist, educator, and co—founder of Builders Without Borders. Michael G. Smith is a respected workshop instructor, consultant, and co—author of the best—selling book The Hand—Sculpted House . Catherine Wanek is a co—founder of Builders Without Borders and author/photographer of The Hybrid House and The New Straw Bale Home .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780865717718
Publisher:	New Society Publishers
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Edition description:	Revised, Expanded and Updated
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

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.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the First Edition Albert Bates ix

Foreword to the Second Edition Bill Steen xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction: An Open Door Michael G. Smith 1

Part 1 The Context for Natural Building

1 The Case for Natural Building Michael G. Smith 11

2 Natural Building: A Global Tradition Catherine Wanek 17

3 The Importance of Housing Ourselves Ianto Evans 23

4 Natural Building and Social Justice Rob Bolman 27

5 Sustainability and Building Codes David Eisenberg 31

6 Can My Natural Home Get a LEED Rating? Joseph F. Kennedy Ann V. Edminster 37

7 Life-Cycle Cost and Value of Four Houses David A. Bainbridge 43

8 In Defense of Craft Patrick Webb 49

Part 2 Design and Planning

9 Designing for Vitality Carol Venolia 55

10 The Healthy House Paula Baker-Laporte 61

11 Eighteen Design Principles to Make Square Feet Work Harder Robert Gay 65

12 Designing with the Sun Susie Harrington 69

13 Natural Building for Cold Climates Jacob Deva Racusin 73

14 Hybrid Homes: Combining Natural Materials for Energy Efficiency Catherine Wanek Michael G. Smith 81

15 Remodeling with Natural Materials Joseph F. Kennedy Janine Björnson 91

16 Siting a Natural Building Michael G. Smith 99

17 The Permaculture House Pefer Bane 107

18 Complementary Systems for Energy-Efficient Homes Michael G. Smith 115

19 Regenerative Building: An Ecological Approach Michael G. Smith 131

20 Building the Natural Village: A Strategy for Repairing Cities Mark Lakeman 137

Part 3 Natural Building Materials and Techniques

21 Natural Building Materials: An Overview Joseph F. Kennedy 145

22 Foundations for Natural Buildings Michael G. Smith 155

23 Stone Masonry Michael G. Smith 163

24 Adobe Building Paul G. McHenry 171

25 A Brief History of Cob Building Michael G. Smith 181

26 Rammed Earth: From Pisé to PISE Scott Grometer 189

27 Compressed Earth Blocks Hubert Guillaud 195

28 Building with Earthbags Joseph F. Kennedy Kelly Hart 203

29 Digging in for Comfort Kelly Hart 211

30 Cordwood Masonry: An Overview Rob Roy 215

31 Straw Bale Building: Lessons Learned Catherine Wanek 221

32 Building with Hemp Tom Woolley 233

33 Light-Clay: An Introduction to German Clay Building Techniques Frank Andresm 245

34 Wattle and Daub Joseph F. Kennedy 253

35 The Evolution of Timber Framing Steve Chappell 257

36 The Art of Timber Framing Devin Smith 263

37 Small-Diameter Roundwood: An Underused Building Material Owen Geiger 271

38 Bamboo Construction Darrel DeBoer 273

39 Waste Not, Want Not: Building with Trash Joseph F. Kennedy 283

40 Earthships: An Ecocentric Model Jack Ehrhardt 289

41 Papercrete: Homes from Waste Paper Barry Fuller 293

42 Roofs for Natural Building Joseph F. Kennedy 301

43 Green Roofs with Sod, Turf or Straw Paul Lacinski Michel Bergeron John Swearingen 309

44 Thatching Comes to America Deanne Bednar 313

45 Natural Insulation Joseph F. Kennedy Michael G. Smith 321

46 Rice Hulls for Insulation Catherine Wanek Paul Olivier 327

47 Earthen Floors Sukita Reay Crimmel James Thomson 331

48 Earth Plasters and Alis Carole Crews 339

49 Working with Lime Barbara Jones 347

50 Natural Paints and Finishes Janine Björnson 357

Part 4 Building the Global Village

51 Shelter and Sustainable Development Susan Klinker 367

52 Sustainable Building as Appropriate Technology David A. Bainbridge 375

53 Woodless Construction in the Sahel John Norton 383

54 Straw Bales in China: Housing for the People Catherine Wanek Kelly Lerner 391

55 Improving Vernacular Housing in Western China Liu Yang Jiaping Liu David A. Bainbridge 397

56 PAKSBAB: Seismically Safe Straw Bale Homes in Pakistan Catherine Wanek 403

57 Earthen Building Comes to Thailand Janell Kapoor 407

58 Natural Building Thrives in Argentina Max Edleson 413

59 Builders Without Borders Catherine Wanek 421

60 Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities Joseph F. Kennedy 429

61 Tlholego Village: A Sustainable Community in South Africa Paul Cohen 435

62 Building with Earth in Auroville Hilary Smith Satprem Maïni 441

63 Friland: Affordable Housing in Community Lars Keller Joanna Morandin 447

64 Evolving a Village Vernacular in Missouri Mark Mazziotti 453

Index 459

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"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

Editorial Reviews

"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

From the Publisher