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Quality of Life
Why would a successful businessman move his family from
New York to a small town in the southwest and go out of
his way to build an ecological home? Perhaps because of
something magical called quality of life, that cannot be
bought or sold, but has do with  desire
to create a better future, both personally and for one's
children.
Michael and Kendal were just breaking ground to build a
new home, when the 9/11 Twin Towers incident occurred. It
caused them to question the future they were providing for
their young daughter; and they were inspired to make a dramatic
change, to move back to "where we met", to a small,
less complicated community, "a good place to raise
a family." They purchased a beautiful, expensive new
home and moved
in. Upon return from a trip, Michael became extremely ill.
After feeling better during several visits away, and becoming
ill again on each return home, Michael and Kendal began
to suspect that their new home was the culprit.
Kendal showed Michael an article in Natural Home Magazine
about an emerging epidemic of sensitivity to standard building
materials. Michael immediately contacted its author, Paula
Baker-Laporte, architect and coauthor of Prescriptions
for A Healthy House; and he and Kendal were on their
way to Santa Fe to meet with her. Michael remembers saying
to Kendal, “What good is success if you can’t
provide a healthy home for yourself and family?”
Chemical Sensitivity
 Paula
shared amazing facts with them; according to the EPA, indoor
air pollution is a greater hazard than outside; the National
Academy of Science estimated in 1986 that 15% of the population
suffered from chemical sensitivities, with a much higher
percentage today. Symptoms include chronic sinus infection,
headache, insomnia, anxiety, joint pain, multiple chemical
sensitivities and other immune disorders. Even the American
Cancer Society has a recommended non-toxic house.
Homes are sealed so tightly today, that chemicals from building
materials saturate the very air we breathe. Formaldehyde
found commonly in sheetrock mud and a binder in fiberglass
insulation, may very well be 'today's asbestos.' Paula suggested
that as a remedial measure they could 'bake' their house
to make it more livable. This involves temporarily vacating
and sealing the home and heating it to above 90 degrees
F in order to accelerate chemical off-gassing. After a few
days the home is aired out to rid it of the gasses. This
process accelerates what would take a new home seven years
to achieve. The couple did this four times (5-14 days each),
eventually allowing Michael to sleep indoors in relative
comfort.
The Healthy House
Paula explained how to create a breathable structure with
natural and non-toxic materials, to create a healthy living
environment. A prime example is the EcoNest,™
built by her husband, Robert Laporte. Robert has pioneered
the resurgence of light straw/clay, a building material
used widely in Europe for hundreds of years.
Convinced, Michael and Kendal engaged Paula to design a
healthy home, and Robert to contribute his master craft
of timber-frame and light straw/clay. Michael and a local
contractor collaborated, sharing a love for doing things
right, along with a belief that there was a better, more
healthful way to build a home; Paula’s plans and accompanying
spec book showed the way. And so began Kendal and Michael's
journey towards a healthy home and better quality of life
for their growing family.
A Labor of Love
 The
graceful handcrafted timber-frame stands out against a deep
blue sky with Robert Laporte's unmistakable signature pine
bough adorning the front peak. He places this symbol on
the structure to express a simple reverence for the magnificence
of Nature, his great ally in building homes that support
good health and last many years, made from materials that
are local, abundant, non-toxic and renewable.
Since straw/clay infill is somewhat labor intensive, Robert
gathers a dozen or so workshop participants, interested
in learning for their own building projects, to work with
his seasoned crew. Working together puts smiles on faces,
as participants toss clay slip, straw
and water in a custom mixer. Pitchforks and wheelbarrows
fill wall forms, and muddy shoes stomp on the mixture to
pack it, resulting in a foot thick wall with an insulation
value of R-23.
When the wall has seasoned, Michael and Kendal will finish
with earth stucco outside, and earth plaster inside, though
wood siding can also be used. The old adage "a good
hat and a good pair of boots" holds true to protect
these walls from the weather, so a generous  overhang
and stone around the base contribute to longevity and minimize
maintenance.
Comfort of a Natural Home
There is always a sense of amazement, upon entering a natural
home, of being softly enveloped by something indefinably
comforting. Michael and Kendal nestle in to their sun-filled,
welcoming, energy efficient residence, designed to support
healthy living by the arrival of their second child.
They demonstrate that homeowners don’t need to sacrifice
aesthetics, modern convenience, quality or the environment
to live in a healthy home.
It is very feasible to build a beautiful and elegant traditional
dwelling with all natural materials. Straw/clay is one style,
and there are many other disciplines and traditions to make
such a visionary home a reality.
A
House with Soul
Photo Gallery
RESOURCES
State of New Mexico Clay Straw Guidelines are available
through the Construction Industries Division, PO Box 25101,
Santa Fe, NM 87504 (505) 827-7030
Prescriptions for a Healthy House: a practical
guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners by
Paula Baker-Laporte, Erica Elliot and John Banta, New Society
Publishers
Dedication from Prescriptions for a Healthy
House
…dedicated to the millions of people who are chronically
ill from chemical exposures. May we be forewarned and learn
from your suffering.
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