The New Autonomous House-Design and Planning for Sustainability, Brenda & Robert Vale (£18)

In 1975 the Vales published ‘The Autonomous House’, a manifesto of ideas for building homes which do not pollute the earth or squander energy. They subsequently built a house and this book documents the philosophy, design and construction of a building without mains sewerage, with ground-breaking ecological design features, powered by the sun. Full of valuable statistics, detailed design information and environmental data (256pp & 37 drawings)

The Vale’s were the architects for the Hockerton Housing Project, whilst Nick Martin from Hockerton Housing Project built the Autonomous House, in nearby Southwell in 1994.