Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village

by Joe Kennedy

"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."

Genres: Technology

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent primer for the unitiated. Full of descriptive examples and inspiring projects around the world. Well presented.
“Mud is not some inferior material that progress will replace; rather vernacular building (because profoundly local) is more efficient and adaptive to local climate, culture, and ecology. Mud’s benefits are psychological, too. A striking example of appropriate technology surpassing industrial technology,mud reduces neocolonial dependence by promoting cultural self-respect. But it does more than that. Mud makes gentle, lovely buildings — expressive, ecologically sound, and humane. It is also practical and ethical.With minimal means it shelters against nature, without abusing her.”