cover image Built by Hand

Built by Hand

Bill Steen, Eiko Komatsu, Athena Swentzell Steen. Gibbs Smith Publishers, $50 (480pp) ISBN 978-1-58685-237-5

From elaborate bamboo structures in Sumba, Indonesia, to houses carved out of volcanic rock in Cappadocia, Turkey, and homes made from earth-block in Chipaya, Bolivia, Japanese photographer Yoshio Komatsu (assisted by spouse Eiko) has traveled the world photographing vernacular structures. The Steens (The Straw Bale House) provide captions and notes on construction techniques in stone, reeds and many other materials. With more than 700 full-color photos in an 8"" x 9"" format, the book takes readers to Ethiopia, Iran, Japan, Spain, Venezuela and many other places. (Oct.)