The EcoNest Home: Designing and Building a Light Straw Clay House

Mother Earth News Wiser Living

by Paula Baker-Laporte, Paula Baker-Laporte, Robert Laporte

“Every aspect of creating a beautiful, sensible, and healthy home is explored and demonstrated with elegance and clarity.” ―Martin Hammer, architect, co-director, Builders Without Borders An EcoNest is not just a home―it is a breathtakingly beautiful structure that nurtures health and embraces ecology. This unique approach to construction combines light straw clay, timber framing, earthen floors, natural plasters, and other natural techniques with the principles of Building Biology to create a handcrafted living sanctuary. By bringing together time-honored traditions and modern innovations, owners of EcoNests enjoy living spaces that reflect the best of both worlds. The EcoNest Home is an in-depth exploration of the benefits of choosing this technique over conventional alternatives, combined with a complete practical guide for prospective designers and builders. Authors Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte draw on their own extensive experience to The most comprehensive, North American resource on light straw clay construction, written by its leading proponents, The EcoNest Home is a must-read for anyone considering building their own healthy, affordable, environmentally friendly, natural home. “A great new book for the ecological designer, builder and homeowner.” ―Sukita Ray Crimmel, coauthor of Earthen Floors “ The EcoNest Home is made from well designed, sophisticated techniques rooted in simplicity. This book demonstrates the outstanding results that arise to their steadfast commitment to creating healthy, natural homes.” ―Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce, authors of Using Natural Finishes

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

Reviews

[Lucie Paris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the minimalist way of living is interesting me, I was curious about this book. I wanted to see what material you can use and how you can build a house by yourself while using natural stuffs.
I was not disappointed. It's full of tips, plans, pictures and informations for people who are really into construction.

To be honest, as I'm not at all at this stage in my life, i was just browsing through the pages and learning about the process and looking for ideas.
The book is amazingly well pictured and detailed.

So, if you want to build your own paradise with healthy products, this book is for you.

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the earlier version many years ago, a nice update with pretty pictures but most of the homes had a very high end custom feel and it seemed more like an ad for their seminars and their services. Not much of a bibliography, still a nice skim if you live in the US.

The Art of Natural Building: Design, Construction, Resources (2nd ed) is a much better book on this subject since it covers a broader range and the bibliography and resource links are outrageously good.