Small Homes by Lloyd Kahn

Small Homes by Lloyd Kahn

Find inspiration from DIY owner-builders who constructed their own small homes in this coffee-table book filled with photography.

Are tiny homes too little for you? Well, small is bigger than tiny! The average American home is 2,500 square feet--that's too big. The tiny home averages 200-300 square feet--that's too little. The small homes featured here are 400-1,200 square feet--just right! American homes are getting bigger and bigger, but small homes are less expensive, use fewer resources, are more efficient to heat and cool, and are less costly to maintain and repair. They are desirable for those who want to avoid a bank mortgage or high rents yet need more room than a tiny house can offer.

Lloyd Kahn has been a leader in the green-building movement for over 40 years. In Small Homes, he presents 120 small homes via more than 1,000 full-color photographs. The homes vary from unique and artistic to simple and low-cost. Some are ordinary buildings that provide shelter at a reasonable cost, and some are inspiring examples of design, carpentry, craftsmanship, imagination, creativity, and homemaking. Some are built with natural materials, such as cob or straw, and some with recycled wood or lumber milled on-site. Some are old homes that have been remodeled, while many were designed and built from scratch. Many are in the country, some in small towns, and some in large cities. Dozens of builders share their knowledge of building and design, with artistic, practical, and/or economical homes in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Lithuania.

Inside you'll find

• 120 homes in the range of 400-1,200 square feet
• Owner-builder techniques
• Variety of construction methods
• Inspiration from owner-builders
• Small homes in both rural and urban areas

The underlying theme with Shelter's books, which span more than 40 years, is that you can create your own home with your own hands, using mostly natural materials. A computer can't build your home for you. You still need a hammer (or nail gun), a saw--and human hands.

I began building about 50 years ago and have lived in a home that I constructed myself ever since. I might not have started building if I had been able to find a great historic house with a good vibe. Yet it was always cheaper to create than to buy, and by doing so, I was able to design exactly what I desired and utilize the materials I wanted. In 1960, I embarked on a journey to study the craft of construction. The entire procedure was quite enjoyable for me.

Nail hammering Delineating space is what framing is all about. The sub-floor and roof decking are nailed down. When you first tread on the floor you've just made, it's a rush.

I wish I could have spent more time learning the basics from a master carpenter, but there was never enough time. I learnt from friends and literature, as well as by blundering my way into a procedure that required some expertise. My viewpoint was that of a beginner, a homeowner, rather than a professional. As I gained experience, I began to believe that I could teach people how to construct, or at the very least get them started on the road to building their own homes.

I've gone from post and beam to geodesic domes to stud frame building throughout the years. It's been a never-ending learning process, and it's lead me to investigate a variety of construction approaches, all of which I'm interested in. I created geodesic domes for five years, from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Domebook One and Domebook 2 were my first two books as a publisher, released in 1970 and 1971, respectively.

In 1973, I abandoned domes (as dwellings) and released our namesake Shelter. Over the years, we've released books on a wide range of topics, including Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter in 2004, Builders of the Pacific Coast and The Barefoot Architect in 2008, and Small Houses in 2012. My favorite subject is construction. Even in today's world, building a house with your own hands may save you a lot of money (I've never had a mortgage) and allow you to have exactly what you want in a home if you follow through.

Lloyd Kahn is a well-known architect.