Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs From Nature by Chris McCurry (Author), Nan Chase (Author)

Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs From Nature by Chris McCurry (Author), Nan Chase (Author)

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gibbs Smith (August 1, 2008)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1423602145
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9781423602149
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.2 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.75 x 10 inches

Rustic, refined, natural, organic, unique, sophisticated, timeless, long lasting, sustainable-bark shingles are the material of choice for today's architects, builders, and homeowners. They appear in a breathtaking range of projects: mountain, seaside, and prairie homes; resort lodges and inns; shopping centers; sports venues and other entertainment facilities; and built-in and freestanding cabinetry.

The first use of bark shingles came in the mountains of western North Carolina from the American chestnut tree, sometime in the late 1800s. The style spread quickly through the resort towns and beyond: the classical lines had broad, timeless appeal yet synthesized three recognized decorative styles at the turn of the twentieth century-Rustic Revival, Shingle, and Craftsman but died out after 1940s. In the 1990s, the revival of bark architecture was generated by Marty McCurry, who made it his life's work to reinvent a modern-day process for manufacturing bark house shingles from poplar bark, utilizing green building practices. Building with bark requires a willingness to take responsibility and to make conscious choices about what you build and how you build it.

Bark's appeal in construction comes from its feel of "instant age." A building clad in bark looks settled into the landscape as soon as construction is completed; it makes a home warmer and more comfortable to approach, and it makes larger buildings more intimate. No matter what variety of rustic styling you prefer-Adirondack, Cowboy, Craftsman, Modern Rustic-bark used in remodeling can act as a visually pleasing architectural tool to bridge the gap between old and new.