Natural Building Companion (eBook)

Part 1: The context for natural building

1. A brief history of natural building in the Northeast

2. Ecology

3. Beyond the building: siting and landscape design

4. Soil and stone: geology and mineralogy

5. Flora and fauna

Part 2: Building science and performance

6. Structure and natural building

7. Heat and natural building

8. Moisture and natural building

9. Fire, insects, and acoustics

Part 3: Natural building practices

10. Design

11. Before construction

12. Foundations for natural buildings

13. Framing for natural buildings

14. Insulative wall systems: straw bale

15. Insulative wall systems: straw-clay, woodchip-clay, and cellulose

16. Natural mass-wall systems: earth and stone

17. Natural plastering

18. Roofs for natural buildings

19. Floors for natural buildings

20. Natural finishes

21. Mechanicals and utilities for natural buildings

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"Natural building is broader in its approach and scope than green building," state Racusin and McArleton (both, Yestermorrow Design/Build School instructors) in The Natural Building Companion. The volume's 21 chapters, which cover topics ranging from soil and acoustics to straw bale and energy electricity, are divided into three parts: ‘The Context for Natural Building,’ ‘Building Science and Performance,’ and ‘Natural Building Practices.’ The natural techniques described all speak to broader concerns about better, healthier ways of building, intended to eliminate volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing; and to create living environments that are designed and built as if climate mattered. These approaches also aim to reduce buildings' reliance on expensive and energy-consuming mechanical systems for maintaining comfortable living conditions. On a more detailed level, the authors delve into product ingredients, e.g., lime in mortars. They even supply recipes for finishes. Their view is that designing and building shelter to meet a wide range of human needs and local environmental conditions need not be a luxury. An additional bonus is an instructional DVD that allows readers to visualize many of the techniques the authors discuss. This book is an excellent hands-on companion to any and all books on architecture. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.

Library Journal-

Builders and educators Racusin and McArleton bring all considerations of green construction to light. Their writing is articulate and their explanations are in-depth, but they provide little how-to. Chapters encompass a wide variety of natural construction methods and materials. The planning sections really shine. Verdict: This guide stands out for the wealth of information it provides on green construction basics and planning. A solid addition to building collections.