Earth to Spirit. In Search of Natural Architecture

By David Pearson

Book Overview

An architect who has been actively involved in inner city and new community housing for most of his working life, David Pearson has travelled the world in search of buildings both modern and traditional that combine the beauty and freedom of nature with a sense of physical and spiritual wellbeing. Featuring over 150 illustrations of innovative structures, this thought-provoking volume integrates the lessons of the past with the technology of the present in creating structures where the land, the home, and the spirit co-exist harmoniously. Earth to Spirit offers inspiring reading for architecture buffs, environmentalists, and anyone interested in designing or building their own home.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811807312
• ISBN13: 9780811807319
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.6" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

A taste.

This book gives you a taste of environmentally friendly architecture from all over the world. Learn about the new earth friendly technology and rediscover old but superior ways of building. It feels like I am reading a few of my other books all put together in one but with some stuff left out. Could use some more photo's but other wise it was a nice educational read.

beautiful illustrations, wonderful philosophy

The author finds examples from all over the world and from traditional as well as modern sources in his quest to define and encourage architecture that is in harmony with nature. Chapters include: Ancestral Archetypes, Healing Architecture, Harmony with the Land, Vernacular Wisdom, Cultural Identity, and Living the Dream, the last being examples of individuals and organizations using the principles espoused by the author. There is some text, but what truly persuades are the many beautiful photographs, well chosen and accompanied by informative paragraphs.Viewing these marvelous examples of harmonious architecture, one can be disheartened at the ugliness and mediocrity of so much architecture surrounding us. But the book also teaches us to look in many places, old and new, near and far, to find examples of creative blendings of nature and humanity.A lovely, inspiring book.

Harmony of nature and Technology

Earth to spirit explores classic habitats from all corners of the world, and introduces us to the basic, and common shelter needs of us all. Although the book concentrates more on rural, and ethnic dwellings, Pearson also shows the adaptations relevant to Western cosmoploitan life. To often an author is either "high tech" or "green". In Earth to Spirit, we see how it is possible to live in an ecologically sound dwelling, while maintaining and incorporating the modern technologies prevelant in modern homes.