Earth Equity News

Malcolm Wells, Champion of 'Gentle Architecture' Dies. Obituary by Bruce Weber, NYTimes, December 6, 2009. "Malcolm Wells, an iconoclastic architect who tirelessly advocated environmentally responsible design and who promoted the idea of earth-sheltered architecture -- that is, buildings at least partly underground -- died Nov. 27 in Brewster, Mass., on Cape Cod. He was 83... Bearded, affable, self-deprecating and appalled by the destructive footprint that buildings, roads and parking lots can leave on the earth, Mr. Wells was dedicated to what he called gentle architecture, something that would, as he put it, 'leave the land no worse than you found it'... Writing in Architectural Digest in 1971, he set forth 15 goals that he said all new buildings should strive to meet. Among them were to use and store solar energy, to consume their own waste, to provide wildlife habitat and human habitat, and to be beautiful. To that end, his designs incorporated the land. He designed some homes (and other buildings) that seemingly burrowed into hillsides, and others whose main living space was subterranean, perhaps with above-ground lean-to roofs or atria and skylights to let in the sun. In general, his roofs were covered with layers of earth, suitable for gardens or other green growth." Visit MalcolmWells.com.