Built By Hand

by Athena Steen, Bill Steen, Eiko Komatsu

Built by Hand is a celebration of what is so uniquely diverse and yet similar in the buildings of different cultures around the world.

Beginning with the most basic ways that human beings have sought shelter-beneath the trees and stars, under the protection of a rock cliff or cave-this book traces the transformation of materials such as earth, stone, wood or bamboo into shelters that are both stationary and moveable.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction

480 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2003

Reviews

[Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the greatest compilation of vernacular architecture ever. Super-inspiring, chock-full of awesome photos of every kind of local, expert-free building from all over the earth. Organized by materials and methods, instead of geography, so you get a global perspective. Definitely one of my favorite books ever! Though I have been accused of enthusiasm.
Wow, what if I blogged every book on my shelves? That would be really time-consuming. I predict my involvement with this site lasts half an hour, tops.

[Andrea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of pictures, not very much text. I gave it four stars because I would have liked more text to explain the pictures. The photos were really quite astonishing. This book documents all the ways to build a house by hand without power tools or fancy equipment. If only to save in the public memory the incredible creativity of the human family, it would be worth it. I hope that this book inspires architects to make an effort to mimic the patterns or celebrate these ideas by incorporating elements of them in modern buildings. This book is and inspiration to me in saying that there is not one right way to build a house or solve a problem.

[Elaine Meszaros · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a massive collection of hand-built homes and buildings from the around the world. Loosely grouped by material and use, the photos and brief text show a world of housing totally unlike anything we see in the US. Using common and available materials, even the poorest of families make unique and beautiful living spaces. Structures are built to fit and serve the environment - inverted roofs to catch water, wind-catchers on roofs, low entrances to protect against enemies, floating island to grow vegetables and gigantic pots to store grain. Be sure to check out the Yemeni bathroom built over the top wall of the house. Everything evaporates before it hits the ground!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book filled with inspiring images of the vernacular architecture of the world - built by hand with traditional forms and techniques. Great coffee table book for the get down in the trenches ecologically minded. A return to basics for architects and builders - sometime the old ways are the best and most beautiful.