Walden (first published as Walden; or, Life in the Woods) by Henry David Thoreau, is one of the best-known non-fiction books written by an American. The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, and manual for self reliance. Published in 1854, it details Thoreau's experiences over the course of two years in a cabin he built near Walden Pond amidst woodland owned by his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, near Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau did not intend to live as a hermit, for he received visitors regularly, and returned their visits. Rather, he hoped to isolate himself from society to gain a more objective understanding of it. Simple living and self-sufficiency were Thoreau's other goals, and the whole project was inspired by transcendentalist philosophy, a central theme of the American Romantic Period. As Thoreau made clear in his book, his cabin was not in wilderness but at the edge of town, about two miles from his family home.
"There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before"."Organic architecture seeks a superior sense of use and a finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity". ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
~ Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion & Other Essays
Imagine: structures with roofs alive with their own little eco-system, truly a part of the ground beneath your feet. Earth-bermed havens that are sheltered by the surrounding forest and mountain side. Post and beam framework, infilled with straw bales made from oats grown in a local farmer's field, creating breathable, organic walls. Built and furnished with natural, indigenous, and reclaimed materials, each Walden features passive solar design, Energy star appliances, super-efficient masonry heaters, touch-activated faucets, dual-flush toilets, recycled glass countertops, and woodland outdoor living spaces. Outside your door, a short walk down a quiet, wooded path leads you to the Green Building, where seminars, workshops, and classes combine to create an enriching eco-getaway.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not now to be useful or believe to be beautiful."
~ William Morris, 1874
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". ~Leonardo DaVinci
