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Praise for The Art of Natural Building — Revised and Updated

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

2much 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

3movement 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

4

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

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Copyright © 2015 by Catherine Wanek, Joseph Kennedy and Michael G. Smith. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh. Cover: Thierry Dronet’s workshop/stable in France is a hybrid natural building incorporating straw bales, cordwood masonry, lime plaster and a living roof. Photo © Catherine Wanek.

Printed in Canada. First printing January 2015. New Society Publishers acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities.

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of The Art of Natural Building should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.

To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America)

1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to: New Society Publishers P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada (250) 247-9737

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

8
The art of natural building : design, construction, resources / editors, Joseph F. Kennedy, Michael G. Smith, Catherine Wanek. — Second edition.

Includes bibliographical references and index. Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-0-86571-771-8 (pbk.). — ISBN 978-1-55092-560-9 (ebook)

1. Architecture, Domestic — Environmental aspects. 2. Ecological houses — Design and construction. 3. Dwellings — Design and construction — Environmental aspects. 4. Building materials — Environmental aspects. I. Wanek, Catherine, author, editor II. Kennedy, Joseph F., author, editor III. Smith, Michael G. (Michael George), 1968–, author, editor

NA2542.35.A77 2014

  • 690′.8047
  • C2014-907511-1

C2014-907512-X
New Society Publishers’ mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through action. The interior pages of our bound books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council®-registered acid-free paper that is 100% post-consumer recycled (100%

9old growth forest-free), processed chlorine-free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks, with covers produced using FSC®-registered stock. New Society also works to reduce its carbon footprint, and purchases carbon offsets based on an annual audit to ensure a carbon neutral footprint. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

The information in this book is based on the experience and opinions of the individual authors and has not been independently verified by the editors. Some of the techniques described herein are quite new and still under development; others are ancient, but may lack extensive scientific and technical study. The resurgence of natural building is still in an experimental stage. Claims as to the insulation value, structural strength, fire safety, health benefits, environmental benefits and so on of the various materials and techniques should be considered preliminary. Always do your own research and testing and/or consult a qualified professional before embarking on a building project.

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Foreword to the First Edition

by Albert Bates Time is most often thought of as a progression, a movement along an axis from past to present to future. We think of human progress in the same terms — today we are better or worse off than we were yesterday or collectively were a century ago. We feel trends afoot. Tomorrow will bring another step.

Some aboriginal societies — and by “aboriginal” I mean any culture still grounded in its origins — look at time as a circle. The Earth spins on its axis and another day is born. The moon goes once around and a month has passed. We circle the sun as seasons come and go, then come again.

In a linear model of progress, the human population continues to expand until its ever-enlarging technical prowess enables it to cross space and colonize the solar system, even leaping out to the stars. In another version, our exhaustion of natural resources and incautious dismemberment of natural evolutionary barriers with glitzy nano-bio-robo abandon devolve Earth’s inhabitants into bubbling gray goo.

Here is a different view. This loop we are on is at its apogee and about to change not only its direction but also everything we think about in terms of human settlements and lifestyles. Instead of planned obsolescence, we will want planned evolution. The focus is on quality, not quantity. We need comfort, privacy, and self-respect. We want warmth that

18 transcends temperature. We want beauty. We want to be in touch with the eternal.

The chapters that follow are sublimely poised as a clue to our future.

ALBERT BATES is the author of 15 books on law, energy, history and the environment, including Climate in Crisis (1990) and The Biochar Solution (2010). He has been the director of the Global Village Institute for Appropriate Technology since 1984 and of the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm since 1994, where he has taught sustainable design, natural building, agriculture and technology to students from more than 60 nations.

19

This book is an invitation to get your hands muddy.

[Credit: Nigel Fusella]
20

Taos Pueblo: the oldest continually inhabited dwelling in North America. [Credit: Joseph F. Kennedy]

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Foreword to the Second Edition

by Bill Steen It was once commonly thought that the utilization of nature’s resources was a linear process that would inevitably lead to unlimited material progress. Nature was seen as useless, unless human labor transformed it into something productive. It was inconceivable that this path might lead ultimately to a degraded environment and a dark future for future generations.

The creation of human habitat revolves around borrowing inputs from the environment and then transforming them into a form we think of as civilization. That process requires the expenditure of a great deal of energy, much of which is lost to entropy as a particular product or service is produced. In essence, that energy becomes unavailable, warming the planet in the process.

Over the past two centuries, the building process as we know it has largely been driven by the fossil fuels that made the first and second Industrial Revolutions possible. These energy sources allowed for previously unimaginable expansion and growth in conjunction with unprecedented societal wealth and the widespread enjoyment of goods and services.

However, most of these benefits were misleading in that they required the burning of vast amounts of fossil fuels, releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere in the process. The result was climate change; in other words, our debt to the Earth’s atmosphere.

23

BILL STEEN, together with his wife Athena, co-founded The

Canelo Project in southern Arizona, where he teaches workshops on straw bale and natural plaster. Co-authors of

The Straw Bale House, Small Strawbale and The Beauty of

Strawbale Homes, they have worked extensively with people in northern Mexico, and taught, lectured and created art

  • throughout
  • Europe
  • and
  • the
  • United
  • States.

caneloproject.com.

24

Athena and Bill Steen, applying clay plasters to a straw bale wall, demonstrate the artistry involved in natural building. [Credit: Catherine Wanek]

The construction and operation of buildings consumes approximately one-half of all the energy used in industrialized

25 countries. Natural building is about learning how to build and operate our buildings so that we can live within our planetary means, by not consuming nature’s endowment faster than the biosphere can recycle the waste and replenish the natural resources. Ultimately, this is the only sustainable path. Changing the way we build is also every bit as essential for our mental, emotional and spiritual health as it is for the planet.

We stand poised to enter an exciting new era of natural building, one that can help ensure a habitable planet, diversity of species, clean air and a healthy climate. The opportunities are endless. There are an increasing number of movements worldwide that focus on local production of human necessities. On a global scale, the Internet is converging with renewable energies to become the means by which we could manage collaborative green energy distribution. Imagine an ever-increasing number of homes built from sustainable, local and natural materials, that produce much or all of their own green energy, which can be distributed wherever needed through an “energy Internet.”

However, utilizing efficient technologies and choosing the most appropriate natural materials is only part of the solution. Given today’s emphasis on speed and the use of massproduced materials, buildings have become largely impersonal, boring, predictable and devoid of creativity and artistry.

Natural materials give us the opportunity to change the rhythm of how we build. They slow us down. They relax the rigidity and homogeneous character of contemporary building practices by encouraging artistic expression characterized by

26 soft organic curves and forms. Their colors and textures connect us to the surrounding landscape, the place where we live, or, in other words, the place who we are. Unexpectedly, they may indirectly lead us to realize that the beauty within ourselves and the beauty of nature are one and the same.

A diversity of ages and genders can be involved in the building process. In that sense, natural materials are inclusive, indirectly and almost invisibly building connections in a very disconnected world. Of these, one of the most important is the connection to the place where we dwell. What an extraordinary thing it is to be able to help sculpt and shape one’s home with one’s own hands — an experience no longer a common part of everyday life. How marvelous it is to feel the touch of clay, of wood and stone. In that touch, our connection with nature is immediately reestablished, and the art of living becomes reality.

This book is a compilation of contributions from those who have explored the world of natural building in a variety of different ways and have contributed to its evolution. It is also an invitation to you, the reader, to become part of that same journey, and in so doing, to bring beauty and artistry into your own life and the lives of others.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks go to the dozens of colleagues who have selflessly shared their hard-won experience to make possible not only this book, but the natural building movement as we know it. We are grateful to be part of a community that recognizes that the surest way to create positive change is to educate others. This book in fact represents the efforts of thousands of people on several continents who have been engaged for the last quarter-century or so in the process of developing new natural building techniques and rediscovering old ones, one building at a time.

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  • Solar Decathlon Website: English to Chinese Translation a Major Qualifying Project Report (Professional Writing)

    Solar Decathlon Website: English to Chinese Translation a Major Qualifying Project Report (Professional Writing)

    Solar Decathlon Website: English to Chinese Translation A Major Qualifying Project Report (Professional Writing) Submitted to the Faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science Submitted By Yunqiu Sun 05/30/13 Advisors: Professor Lorraine Higgins Professor Jennifer Rudolph P a g e | 2 Abstract WPI is part of a team competing in Solar Decathlon China. For its Communications Contest, our team is generating a website, brochure, and signage to engage the audience in learning about the house we designed, “Solatrium”, and get inspired from our Solar Decathlon experience. This MQP incorporates an English to Chinese translation of the website, brochure, signage, video walkthrough, and dinner menu. It also provides information on the house design, the target audience for the Chinese website, and experts’ advice on translation. I compared my actual translation challenges and strategies to those proposed by literature. I conclude translation is not just about literal translation or reproducing sources into another language. It is also about making persuasive and culturally appropriate adaptations to attract the audience through their interests. This project reflects language and cultural differences through the experience of translation. P a g e | 3 Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the support of Professor Lorraine Higgins and Professor Jennifer Rudolph who provided helpful comments and encouragement throughout this project, and Professor Xin Xin who proofread
  • Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Construction of Green Building

    Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Construction of Green Building

    3 VIII August 2015 www.ijraset.com Volume 3 Issue VII, July 2015 IC Value: 13.98 ISSN: 2321-9653 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET) Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Construction of Green Building Guduru Venkata1, Suresh Bhargav2, Sumit Choudhary3, B.S.S.P.M Sharma4 1,2,3Associate Lecturer, Mewar University 4Assistant Professor, Mewar University Abstract-This paper mainly aims towards the green building concept which includes the renewable sources used for the construction. The green building concept is very much useful in keeping the environment clean which on a certain view even increases the life period of construction. Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include renewable plant materials like straw and mud brick, timber from forests certified to be sustainably managed, recycled materials and other products that are non-toxic, reusable and renewable. The increasing population in a certain way has decreased available free land for new constructions. The choice of products used to build, renovate and operate structures has a significant impact on the environment. When specifying any materials, it is important to consider their life cycle environmental impacts. Wood products have less embodied energy, are responsible for lower air and water pollution, and have a lighter carbon footprint than other commonly used building materials. The paper mainly aims towards the few questions which are very much important in developing the infrastructure of the country. The materials mainly used for constructing a green building. The efficiency of the buildings which are made of renewable constructing sources. The cost effectiveness of the buildings.
  • Advocating for Net-Zero Energy Sustainable Houses Through the International Solar Decathlon Competition

    Advocating for Net-Zero Energy Sustainable Houses Through the International Solar Decathlon Competition

    Proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE'18) Budapest, Hungary – April 8 - 10, 2018 DOI: 10.11159/icsenm18.1 Advocating for Net-Zero Energy Sustainable Houses through the International Solar Decathlon Competition Timothy J McCarthy, Brendan J Banfield, Yeganeh Baghi, Luca Faidutti, Clayton McDowell University of Wollongong NSW Australia Abstract - The US Department of Energy has been running the Solar Decathlon since 2000. This contest challenges teams of university students to design, build and operate a solar powered net-zero energy house. The contests are held in the US and at locations around the world. Transporting the house to the contest location is a major challenge for the teams. The University of Wollongong became the first Australian team to enter the Solar Decathlon when it’s house was constructed at Datong, China for the SD China 2013 competition. Team UOW won that competition against 18 other universities from around the world. The university will be in the final of the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 to be held in Dubai in October/November of that year. The new house, named Desert Rose, is a net-zero energy, dementia friendly eco house designed for the harsh Gulf climate. This paper will summarise the history of the 16 Solar Decathlon contests to date. The impact of the competition on the 235 international teams will be examined to demonstrate how the Solar Decathlon is a vehicle for educating engineers, architects and universities about sustainable and net-zero energy buildings. Case studies, including Team UOW’s winning entry to SD China 2013 will examine the value of such a large educational initiative from multiple perspectives.
  • Natural Building: the Viability of Straw Bale As a Sustainable Construction Material for the Future

    Natural Building: the Viability of Straw Bale As a Sustainable Construction Material for the Future

    Natural building: The viability of straw bale as a sustainable construction material for the future Arsenio Rodrigues1 1Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas ABSTRACT: The research paper highlights the importance of the (interconnected) systems theory model as one of the most relevant and pertinent approaches toward addressing sustainable construction material- technology for the future. By taking a values-based approach that integrates social and ecological good with health, resource efficiency, and durability, the paper advocates the urgency for future material-technology research to re-examine natural and sustainable building techniques vis-à-vis systems thinking and therefore, a more holistic approach towards design and the building process. In doing so, the paper examines the viability of straw bale as a sustainable material-technology for our future construction needs. As evidenced by numerous precedents, straw bale buildings results in energy efficient, durable, and non-toxic structures. Straw bale walls incorporate remarkable thermal, acoustic, fire, and insect resistance properties. In addition, they are characterized by relatively low maintenance, high longevity, improved indoor air quality, and embody intangible aesthetic qualities. Most importantly, they are environmentally responsible and contribute to sustainable development of the built environment. Related to straw bale wall systems, the research paper explores essential concepts related with its building science including, straw stalk, structural system, stud framing, pony wall, wall cavity, and base plaster. In terms of building performance, (of the myriad qualities associated with straw bale) three of its most critical (and perhaps most misunderstood) characteristics are examined - thermal capacity, moisture performance, and fire resistance. Material presented herein, has been largely gleaned from first-hand experience while working with experts on a straw bale structure at Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Vermont.