Building with Whole Trees

Reader Contribution by Troy Griepentrog

Of all the sustainable building methods, one that receives far less attention than it deserves is building with whole trees. Well, they’re not exactly “whole.” The bark is removed (usually peeled by hand while the trees are still standing), and the ends are cut. But the trees remain round — not even one side is cut.

The advantages are that the unmilled wood is extremely strong, yet somewhat flexible. The trees are selectively removed from local forests or woodlots. And the homes are durable.

For further details and photos, visit Roald Gundersen Design or read Deep Roots, Strong Branches (be sure to watch the video that accompanies this article from Natural Home Magazine).

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