Malcolm Wells is known as the father of modern earth-sheltered architecture. He began his career as an architect in the 1950s constructing typical buildings. However, his approach to architecture changed after he attended the 1964 New York World’s Fair. While at the fair, he saw an underground housing exhibit that inspired him to research building underground.
As time passed, he learned more about earth-sheltered architecture and became convinced it was the best way to build. During his career, he wrote many articles and books on the subject of earth-sheltering. As an architect, he supported green building designs. He also developed a list of 15 characteristics that all building designs should aim for. These characteristicsensure that a building can be environmentally friendlyand fit in with its natural surroundings.
Wells designed a number of underground buildings, including his own office and home. He enjoyed the advantages that his underground bui l dings had over tradi t ional structures. For example, his buildings required less maintenance and were much quieter than traditional, above-ground ones. He was also glad that his buildings helped to make the world a little greener.
