Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village (Natural Building Series) [Paperback]

Joe Kennedy (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Natural Building Series | Publication Date: February 1, 2004

Building Without Borders describes pioneering efforts to create sustainable shelter for billions currently under-housed. It surveys projects around the world that are housing the homeless without destroying natural habitats to do so, by drawing upon local traditions such as bamboo, straw bale and earthen construction.

Highly illustrated and popular in style, it includes case studies, technical information, and the latest thinking on truly sustainable construction, and advocates education and training as the means to empower local peoples to create houses for themselves.

Joseph F. Kennedy cofounded Builders Without Borders, an international consortium of natural builders and architects serving homeless and under-housed populations. He teaches ecological design and natural building at New College of California, and co-edited The Art of Natural Building.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph F Kennedy co-founded Builders Without Borders, an international consortium of natural builders and architects serving homeless and under-housed populations. He teaches ecological design and natural building at New College of California, and co-edited The Art of Natural Building.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865714819
• ISBN-13: 978-0865714816
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, not a how-to guide, February 9, 2011

By 

Rachel (Germany) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village (Natural Building Series) (Paperback)

When I bought this I was looking for something that would tell me (generally) how to build the different methods described. I thought they might give quantities/recipes for cob, or for plaster and such, but the book is more of a discussion on the culture/architecture/appropriate building materials and such. For me, a really interesting surprise was a discussion of how to handle refugee situations/camps.

The content was good, but sometimes written in an uninteresting way. It appears that the authors/editors wanted to have a really honest view of the building techniques, so they would put information about where the technique did not work, or more often, was not accepted by the local people. If you're looking for something to make you feel good and happy that the "natural way" is going to save the world, you will probably be disappointed, but if you can see it as a good learning tool to understand new ways of building and why they haven't taken off everywhere, this is an excellent place to start.

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and interesting, February 8, 2011

By 

misssarah - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village (Natural Building Series) (Paperback)

I haven't yet put any of the ideas into practice, but as an "armchair" builder so far I have really enjoyed this book. There are nice little stories mixed in, and a nice range of ideas.

5.0 out of 5 stars great, simple and comprehensive, June 7, 2010

By 

Kristopher D. Young "PROViDE" (san diego, ca) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village (Natural Building Series) (Paperback)

I've referenced this book in academic papers in my graduate studies and it's good enough that I plan to use some of the ideas therein this summer while rebuilding Haiti.