Will Anderson
Green Books
www.greenbooks.co.uk
Similar to many people around the world, Will Anderson dreamed of building his own home, but not just any home, but a home as natural, lush, and green as the tree that took over a lot in the Clapham Hill district of London, England. Not new to green design and do-it-yourself building, columnist for the Independent, Anderson and his partner Ford, take readers through the process of choosing the plot (land), going through the design and dream process to hiring the contractor and workers. While many folks think of this as an adventure, and Anderson did to some extent too, building one's home is not for impatient type A personalities, unless they know what to do when Murphy's Law of construction and contractors happens. And it will and it does.
Diary of an Eco-Builder is actually a compilation of articles that appeared in Anderson's green building column and it's a diary that anyone planning on building their dream home needs to read. Filled with images of the building process (choosing the plot, building the foundation, installing the plumbing and wiring, building an unusual frame that mimics a tree, installing the solar panels and choosing sustainable materials) readers feel like they're standing on the building site.
I appreciated the author's British dry wit, determination when faced with setbacks such as delays in shipment of materials, miscommunication between the contractor and a supplier, delays in completion of the home and other woes home owners have experienced with renovation and building of a new home. Yet, despite it all the finished house, framed by a gigantic tree, garden with patio and fountain, seems worth it in the end. And who won't feel inspired by the painstaking details of keeping a home truly "green" and in balance with earth and the surrounding neighborhood?
http://www.greenbooks.co.uk