Out of the Woods [Paperback]

Pat Borer (Author), Benedicte Foo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001 | Series: New Futures

Architect Walter Segal refined the process of post and beam timber frame building to its bare bones in order to make it accessible to everyone. Using this flexible and adaptable method, Out of the Woods provides an easy approach for those with no previous building experience to create their own post and beam home with expert advice for all stages of planning, design and building. The in-depth consideration of the environmental impact of different materials helps readers create an affordable eco-friendly home to suit their tastes and needs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An inspiring and challenging book that should be in every college, school and public library as well as all architect and design practices." -- The Environment Council

"It should be compulsory reading for every self builder." -- Self Build and Design Magazine

"It's recommendations are grounded firmly in rational analysis of global problems and sound building science." Touchstone -- Touchstone

"This inspirational book is packed full of ideas and advice...recommended." -- Positive News

"This mine of practical information is beautifully laid out with colour pictures on almost every page." -- Country Smallholding

About the Author

Pat Borer is an architect in mid-Wales, and Cindy Harris is a builder specializing in the environmental impact of building materials. Both helped to pioneer the Centre for Alternative Technology's self-build approach.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Centre for Alternative Technologies; 2 edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1898049122
• ISBN-13: 978-1898049128
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,624,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Segal self-build book, March 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Out of the Woods (Paperback)

This is the best book on the Segal style of self-building popular in the UK. There are three elements to the Segal movement: A practical building method for light wood frame buildings; An ecological approach to building; A track record of owner built communities. This book sticks mostly to the buildings.

Segal built houses are essentially stick buildings made up of ring frames, raised like the bents in a timber frame building. As a structural type they would only be a footnote to post and beam or platform framed building, even if they took off in popularity. They nonetheless provide an attractive, light on the land approach that, aesthetically, is reminiscent of Japanese houses made modern (I suppose one might say Tudor also).

When the book touches on the other themes of ecology and social housing it misses the mark somewhat for most readers, I suspect. These subjects are covered comprehensively elsewhere in the Whole House Book (also Borer and Harris), and the Self Build Book. These themes are also more contingent on local situations and views. For instance the idea that it is more environmentally friendly to burn oak hardwood than say natural gas, because trees when re-grown will be greenhouse gas net-neutral due to the trees' consumption of CO2, is mildly ridiculous. I guess it depends on whose lungs are downwind.