Monday, December 16, 2013

HAND-BUILT ~




















Lloyd Kahn is the champion, kingpin, man-to-go-to, gold mine, provider, gleaner, old hand, and hands down knowledgeable one on all things hand built — and from the earth (meaning wood & stone) all the better. He has been working the grapevine for decades, sought out the woodbutchers and the back-to-the-landers and the survivors, of which he is one. The subject stays on the table and he has published many books now since the 60s on this oldest of crafts: making a home. Affordable and adorable.

Of all the structures and buildings and moving carts and trucks and hearths and abodes in this treasury of a book, and there are dozens upon dozens to fall in love with, for today "Judith Mountain Cabin" is my favorite. I do have a thing about well timed stone, rural, and the subtle architecture on this structure makes it a gem. I'd take most of the riff-raff off the roof since I don't like anything on a metal roof — let the weather slide — and if I went to all the heft to get this dynamo and well-squared stone footing into place, I'm taking a stone chimney, or even a fireplace, all the way up to the roof line.

A marvel of a book. If Lloyd lives to the ripe old age of 200, there should be 50 more of these wonders published.


Tiny Homes
simple shelter
Lloyd Kahn
Shelter Publications
P.O. 279
Bolinas, California
94924
shelter@shelterpub.com