Legendary builder: SunRay Kelley

May 16, 2009

A true natural builder before “natural building” hit the scene, SunRay Kelley is a legend. His large Tolkien-esque buildings, like living organisms rising up out of the earth, have appeared around the country during the past 30 years. The temple at the popular Harbin Hot Springs resort was built by SunRay.

SunRay Kelley, photo from sunraykelley.com

SunRay Kelley, photo from sunraykelley.com

SunRay comes from a logging family in the Pacific Northwest and calls the woods “God’s Hardware Store” where he goes “shopping” for inspiration.

hermitage

The hermitage photo from sunraykelley.com

On the smaller scale, he has built at least eight 12′-diameter yurts and is hosting interns from April through June build another one this summer.

Sauna photo from sunraykelley.com

Sauna photo from sunraykelley.com

sunray-int-structure-lr

Be sure to check out more photos of this dome.

Many thanks to Lloyd Kahn for sending me his most recent book, Builders of the Pacific Coast, where SunRay is featured along with many other builders. Now I have several hours of browsing these whimsical designs ahead of me.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Leigh May 22, 2009 at 11:02 am

Hi there,

Can’t find an email contact for you on your blog–I’m a writer working with a new environmental site (www.onemillionactsofgreen.com) and I’d like to interview you and your husband for a feature story on living small.

Please feel free to contact me at leighbailey@speakeasy.net. Thanks! LOVE your blog!

Leigh

Yoli May 28, 2009 at 10:04 am

How beautiful! and he is adorable!!! Like a hobbit.

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