The Barefoot Architect: A Handbook for Green Building

the contents of the book were as expected, I even met the author years ago, so I knew what to expect, but the package was insufficient, the book arrived in a damaged condition.

The information is solid. Much of the knowledge can be found in different books and corners of the Internet, but this book brings it all together, and has a few projects that I haven’t seen elsewhere. Worth buying, for sure!

This is the English version of the original Spanish only book. The Barefoot Architect is a single volume book that covers every aspect of how to plan and construct rural central American (and South American) towns. From town planning, where to site buildings, how to build a house, or public toilets, a water powered wheel, or build a wheel barrow out of a 55 gallon drum, this book has it all. I'd bought the Spanish version years ago in a small bookstore in Mexico and was REALLY HAPPY to find it in English (as my Spanish isn't at all good). Dimensions all remain in metric, which is fine.A great gift for anyone into these topics!

This book is for ANYONE wanting to learn the primitive laws to govern structure building. Its like a book on how to sail only its about building ANY structure in any region. From a tent to a home. Great practical techniques and applications of physics to the design process.I study castles and ancient buildings. The writer of this books wrote this book to actually be a manual for people of any region in the world so that they could build a dwelling that could last the elements and also use the elements practically to make the structure sound.

This book is graphically intense and written for the novice builder. I don’t mean novice in a bad way, but to properly set expectations of the numerous variables and decisions that need to be addressed in the undertaking of design and construction of a residence. It further address many of the regional climatic issues found around the world in similar terms. I am interested in sustainable building at the residential level and found it to be a good primer on those issues too.

This is a very interesting book.It appears to have been written for Peace Corps volunteers or their ilk.It is profusely illustrated with line drawings that complement and clarify the content.It overs all aspects of home building for those in developing areas (OK that was the PC version, it really is for people with nothing, that are dirt poor, that have to make do w/what's close at hand, i.e., those in poverty.)That being said I found it to be very educational because if tables were reversed, I wouldn't have a clue and this book might get me started out right.

Awesome information. If you want to know about how to build a sustainable home in different part of the world this is it. I got so many ideas and knowledge from this book than anything before. My opinion, a must read if you are building your own or want to follow the methods by telling your construction company.

Exceptional book on vernacular architecture and practical building. This "how to" approach addresses the 2nd and 3rd world's building practices from the direct perspective of someone who understands building in the tropics. A vital and useful book for any interested student of the best practices for 1000 aspects of the diy community building in impoverished areas of the world. Completely practical and honest, and vitally up-to-date for building anywhere but the hideously code-infested wealthy Western world. Truly a gem.