Conventional building construction uses a great deal of fossil fuel and non-renewable resources, while natural building offers a range of alternatives which use less energy and resources and create less damage to the environment. 

So Tom Whoolley, an aknowledged expert in this field, explains to us in this excellent introduction to natural building, which thoroughly examines the various techniques involved.

Useful to both the professionals and their clents, from public to commercial businesses, to the self-builder and anyone interested in building using natural materials.

It points out that most initiatves to tackle the environment are concentrated with genrerating renewable energy as opposed to reducing energy consumption in the first place i.e. building using materials and methods that need minimal manufacturing and transportation.

Most people will have some idea of natural building whether it be a straw-bale house seen on the TV or a grass roof, but may not realise the many other facets of natural building and how it is possible to approach most aspects of building from this perspective. There are 220 colour photograhs illustrating how innovative and wisdespread natural buildngs are.

The author discusses the changing nature of our builing materials. Our vernacular buildings were built, he says, using natural and local materials and with the advent of industry and technology (which is relatively very recent) thousands of synthetic building products developed which gradually replaced these. Often as much is spent on the marketing, packaging and transportation, as on the material itself. We have come to take it for granted that manufacturered materials are the best things to use when building. Whilst before buildings were built to last centuries now they are ‘glued together’ and last decades.

The author advocates a sensible balance between the many, highly useful and ingenious, modern materials and with natural materials, as been the best way to approach building, so that we get the best from both old and new. 

The book is divided into 11 chapters The introduction addresses what natural building is, how the book can be used and misconceptions both positve and negative associated with natural materials and techniques.

The following 3 chapters deal with earth, timber and straw-bale building respectively, in excellent detail, pointing out frankly the qualities and also the limitations, pit-falls etc. of the relevant technique.

A chapter is given to roofs, covering thatch, timber shingles/boards and planted roofs. A chapter to lime and masonery and, also, to hemp construction. Hempcrete construction would seem to have great potential in the so called main stream construction industry due to the similarity of its construction to other mainstream methods, the interest expressed by mainstream building insurance companies and due to the ease of growing and the many alternative uses of the hemp crop.

A chapter is give to natural insulation which, also, touches on air-tighness, ventilation, thermal mass and breathability. 

Natural paints and finishes are also covered.

The book deals honestly with the questions and issues that arise with natural building regarding planning and building regulations, stabillity and longevitity of the builidngs, the problems and advantages with the various techniques involved.

There are many books dealing with natural building methods but they tend to focus on the one technique or topic. Here is a book covering many in a very readable format with plenty of photographs to illustrate. An ideal Christmas present for anybody who is interested in buildings with a difference!