Introduction This manual is for those of you who dream of building a home. I will describe the relationship between a house and its environment: the limitations and the possibilities. I hope that consulting this book will help you find solutions in realizing your dream. The information presented in this book is mainly graphic. I believe that simple perspective drawings such as these convey information better than page after page of words. The Barefoot Architect is meant not only for individual owner-builders, but also for governmental "sweat equity" programs that require the participation of owner/builders in the community. I do not necessarily mean to persuade you to build your home in a vernacular manner. The world has changed much; often there are not suitable materials or the skills necessary for vernacular building. In many cases, adhering resolutely to traditional building methods will prove frustrating. The manual is meant to answer the realistic challenges in present-day construction and to suggest practical solutions by combining traditional and modern techniques. At the same time, I do not mean to imply that these proposed alternative methods will automatically produce a miraculous shelter; rather that a combination of these techniques will guide you in providing a harmonious living environment. The phrase "barefoot architect" was inspired by the first architects, living in the distant past, who mixed adobe by treading mud with their bare feet. Barefoot architects produced the most incredible buildings of antiquity, such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. How to Use This Book This manual does not propose rigid rules for building but instead shows many ways of building a house while using a wide range of materials, thus giving you a great variety of choices in its construction. Where you do not do all the building yourself, understanding the concepts and examples in this manual and how these ideas are used during construction will enable you to have a more productive dialogue with the builder in charge. When using alternative, non-conventional building techniques, you should employ quality-control testing, especially when fabricating critical structural elements. The author is not responsible for any procedure that is not in accordance with accepted structural building safety practices. Local climate is important to consider when choosing materials and techniques, in order to achieve the greatest environmental harmony with minimum cost. This book shows a bit of everything. Read all the chapters first before deciding on the most appropriate materials and techniques. Excerpted from The Barefoot Architect: A Handbook for Green Building by Johan van Lengen All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
