Go Underground with Architect Malcolm Wells
When I was in middle school my science teacher, Mr. O'Leary, showed the class a film about an underground house (this was back in the '80s, with the really bad projectors and everything). The movie was all about how underground houses are not cold, dark, or wet. Rather, they can be very inviting and very energy efficient. In retrospect, Mr. O'Leary was a pretty cool guy, and I think now he showed us that film because he wanted to live in an underground house. Can't blame him.
In college I came across the work of architect Malcolm Wells. If you want to learn about underground houses, run - do not walk, to your nearest library and find one of his books. Wells has been a genuine pioneer and his work in underground or earth sheltered building, and passive solar design has inspired so many people for many years. He's done a ton of great books, full of his brilliant designs and illustrations. I used to keep checking this one out of the Purdue library, over and over. My name must have been on the book card twenty times by the time I graduated (yeah, back then they didn't just scan the ISBN number into the computer, you signed a little card in a pocket in the book's back cover, for you youngsters who've never heard of such a crazy thing).
Wells has done several notable homes, most famous of which is probably this one on Cape Cod. Lovely, isn't it? Wells is a beautiful artist. His books are filled with his wonderful sketches. Very inspiring.
I like his vision. Change from the sad old spec house (like the one I live in right now) to something natural, beautiful, and efficient.
Wells is really one of the greats. As far as natural housing goes, don't miss out on his work. Check out his website, and go find some of his books. You'll really like them, and you'll learn a lot.
Image credits - Malcolm Wells' site
3 comment(s):
cool, i like the look of the cape cod house. i don't know much about that school but you see them sometimes. next time i'm at the library huh.
matt
Oh man! I can't believe you dig Malcom Wells. Before he ran away to Martha's Vineyard he practiced right here in Cherry Hill, NJ outside of Philadelphia. And there is a bunch of his inspiring (and under-appreciated) work sprinkled around the region. His first underground house is here not 2 miles from my office. We are losing his buildings though, as oft happens to these great designers. The Cherry Hill library fell a few years ago - a great timber framed building. It was completely overwhelmed by the growth of the town, but an inspired building none the less.
So called "schools" are strange places. My parents tricked me into going to it, then later complained about how long it took for me to leave. I am preparing to have them institutionalized at the earliest opportunity.
As for Wells, uh, for sure, how can one be interested in natural architecture and not dig him? He's brilliant, definitely under-appreciated, has a radical streak. What's not to like. Sad about his buildings. Hopefully when people build something new they'll do so accounting for lessons Wells taught.
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