The Art of Natural Building-Second Edition-Completely Revised, Expanded and Updated - 2nd Edition (Paperback)

About the Book

This illustrated collection from 50 leading voices illuminates dozens of eco-friendly building techniques, and showcases applications of natural building techniques to create affordable housing.

Book Synopsis

This full-color encyclopedic resource is for anyone interested in buildinglow-cost, environmentally sensible structures. This illustrated collection from over 50 leading voices illuminates dozens of eco-friendly building techniques, and showcases applications of natural building techniques to create affordable housing around the world.

From the Back Cover

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. ROB HOPKINS , FOUNDER, TRANSITION TOWN MOVEMENT AND AUTHOR, THE POWER OF JUST DOING STUFF

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. MICHAEL P. TOTTEN , SENIOR FELLOW, ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE

THIS COLLECTION from over 50 leading voices in the field of natural building describes dozens of eco-friendly building techniques, from straw bale and cob, to hemp and salvaged materials, illuminating the best practices for ecological design. 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 stunningly illustrated with more than 400 photographs, The Art of Natural Building is a must-read for anyone interested in building durable, low-cost, environmentally sensible structures. This completely revised and updated comprehensive resource is the one-stop, user-friendly introduction to natural building, for everyone from do-it-yourselfers to architects and designers.

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 , BOARD PRESIDENT, COLORADO STRAW BALE ASSOCIATION

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 , FOUNDER, BUILDWELLLIBRARY.ORG

Joseph F. Kennedy is a designer, builder, writer, artist and educator, and co-founder of Builders Without Borders.

Michael G. Smith is a respected workshop instructor, consultant, and co-author of the bestselling 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 .

To help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, Mother Earth News is recommending select New Society Publishers books to its readers. This book is one of them.

Review Quotes

"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. Wi

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.