Houses Made of Wood and Light: Author to Speak at Darvill’s

Houses designed by Salt Spring Island architect Hank Schubart are the subject of Michele Dunkerley’s book and talk at Darvill’s on Dec. 5.

On Wednesday, December 5, 2012, author Michele Dunkerley will discuss her book, Houses Made of Wood and Light (https://www.housesmadeofwoodandlight.com/), at Darvill’s Bookstore. This stunningly illustrated book explores how Hank Schubart, a West Coast modernist architect, used the ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright to design homes in which nature flows seamlessly into architecture. Dunkerley’s presentation will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in architecture, photography and Pacific Northwest living.

Houses Made of Wood and Light traces Schubart’s career and how he came to be known as a genius for finding the perfect site for a home and for integrating its design into a natural setting so the house appears to be as native to the forest around it as the trees and rocks.  Built of wood and glass, suffused with light and oriented to stunning island views, Schubart’s homes exhibit a design philosophy that mirrored his political view:  concern for the environment, use of local craftsmen and materials, and a commitment to working within a small but vibrant community.

Schubart was not only a great architect; he was also a remarkable person. While still in his teens, he was accepted by Frank Lloyd Wright as a Taliesin Fellow, and his apprenticeship taught him principles of designing in harmony with nature. In 1968, Schubart moved his family to Salt Spring Island, Canada in response to concerns about the Vietnam War.  Here he became the de facto community architect, designing more than 230 projects on Salt Spring and the San Juan Islands.

The photographs and design concepts in Houses Made of Wood and Light provide inspiring design ideas for architects and homeowners alike.