Paperback, 720 pages.
by Johan van Lengen
ISBN: 978-0936070421

This book is for people who dream of building a simple home. It is also for those in the building trade: carpenters, masons, plumbers, and artisans, as well as urban planners, rural technicians, and small community designers. It covers basic design, use of a great variety of natural materials, construction details, natural heating and cooling, and water and sanitation techniques. Although many of the methods shown are traditional, more modern techniques are shown as well. The author advises that resolutely adhering to vernacular techniques can prove frustrating, and advocates utilizing the best of both worlds in providing a harmonious living environment.