Customer Reviews

Builders of the Pacific Coast

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Living on the west coast I can see on a daily basis the influence of books on shelter by Lloyd Kahn. This latest effort is filled with in-depth coverage of over 40 unique builders/crafts-people, a lot of whom are in British Columbia. These are all what I'd call true homes built by people who are skilled but are artisans creating their own dwellings. One can barely read a page without getting an idea to do something creative for their own home. The photographs and writing are top notch and Lloyd's experience as a builder, as a communicator, as an avid environmentally conscious individual allows each person and place to come alive. This is a table top book one wants others to peruse when visiting. One does not need to move to the rural areas for the essence of such living is held within the over 250 pages of this beautiful visual hymn to the creative builder.

I bought this book as a present for my daughter who lives in California. Of course, I didn't send it without giving it a quick once over. I loved it so much I've ordered another copy for my wife and myself. The choices of builders and examples of their art are wonderful and the photography is beautiful. I wish I was young enough to attempt some of these buildings. Sigh...

this is a great book with lots of ideas and imagination. you will want to crawl inside and live in this book. just wish there was more how to do it but well worth the money. anyone wanting to live an alternative lifestyle or build an amazing house with wood should have this book for inspiration and ideas.

This book is about freedom and beauty, building and soul. As a builder in France, it is so inspiring to have this book around and be able to connect to all these amazing people and projects. It helps me remember why I wanted to learn building, and that yes it is possible to build from the whole of being, hands, head and heart. It helps me believe in my visions even when other beliefs tell me they're too crazy.

I met this book after Homework and Shelter. I knew it existed but somehow I thought it would be less thrilling and rich that the two others which go all around the world. The Pacific coast is far from France! But it quickly became my favorite book and companion. I ordered it while I am building my own house, and it helped me to nourish my vision and make right (soulful, beautiful) decisions. I-love-this-book!

I've been coveting a lot of my neighbors' houses while browsing "Builders of the Pacific Coast" (Shelter Publications) by Lloyd Kahn, a photo-splashed book full of amazing, rustic, wood-built dwellings and shelters on islands and in other remote seaside locations in the Pacific Northwest.

The area's huge trees and ubiquitous driftwood lend themselves to curvaceous, organic design, and these builders take full advantage of these qualities in structures that range from a Hobbit-like gazebo to a spherical treehouse to grand but still-earthy luxury homes and spas. Many of the homes are reachable only by boat and perched in impossibly beautiful settings.

There's a strong countercultural thread to these builders, many of whom were inspired by Kahn's 1973 book "Shelter," a bible of sorts for that decade's back-to-the-land movement. And Kahn's laid-back writing style is full of metaphysical allusions and meandering asides about his travels, giving it a whiff of patchouli and B.C. bud. But looking at these homes, it's hard to doubt that there's "a vortex of creative carpentry energy in this part of the world," as the book states. Moss roofs, bentwood railings, hand-carved details, natural motifs, and Native influences complement the area's mossy, foggy splendor and speak to its natural and human history.
--Keith Goetzman, senior editor, Utne Reader

Builders of the Pacific Coast takes up where Homework left off, connecting the reader with these amazing people and their work. It gives me hope that the whole world isn't "little boxes made of tickey tackey".

I loved Shelter and highy recommend this one, it shows with very nice pictures, the builders and the creations they made. It makes you just want to go to the beach to collect driftwood or to the scrapyard to get anything that might help you build your own home. great!

I bought this book today at the Green Festival in San Francisco and - wow - I'm blown away by the creativity of these artisan builders. I guess most of these homes were built at a time and/or place where there were no building codes, as the first featured builder started by building a roof with support and then added everything else as he felt it should be. That's difficult to do in today's times of fully finished building plans and permits etc.

Being a builder of sorts myself (I've been renovating historic homes for years, but have moved to the SF Bay area in '07 and haven't done any since, due to the real estate market) I feel completely inspired and am chomping at the bit to do another major project.

I can recommend this book to anyone that is interested in building beyond the 'cookie-cutter'.

great book ,great photo's of lost art by owner builders,Laws as zoning takes away all our individual creativity.Repeal zoning and regain our individual rights to build. This book has great information and photo's of homes and structures that you may never see again. A must buy for anyone interested in owner building.Laws should cater to building this way , with the materials close by and going to waste.All of Lloyd Kahn's work is superb. a great contribution.All of his work is a must have.

251 pages of WOW until your just left speechless by page after page of amazing home-built architecture. Excellent full colour photos and fascinating stories. If your a fan of the authors other books, "Shelter" and "Home Work" then this is a must have book.

I found it quite interesting that most of the builders in this book all own a copy of "Shelter". I guess what goes around comes around. And if your reading this Lloyd, I do look forward to yet newer editions of the "Shelter" series of books in the future.