In Memory: Malcolm Wells

1News clipping from last week - via Philly.com: "Malcolm Wells, the visionary Cherry Hill architect who died Nov. 27 at 83, was considered a crackpot in 1964 when he gave up lucrative commissions for the RCA Corp., and began advocating underground buildings with earth-friendly sod roofs. But he lived long enough to see some of his most radical ideas become standard practice."

Read the obituary written by Wells' posted at his website, which is illustrated and multi-media - much like the process-driven work of the man himself.



As he mentions towards the end, there's still more and the story continues: "But wait: don't cut me off here. I haven't told you about my two years in the Marine Corps - World War II - studying engineering at Georgia Tech and carrying a wooden rifle, of working with the Seneca's, or doing a World's Fair building, or [written in with ink above the typing - (designing)] a quilt, or never having touched a computer or a cell phone, or having done dozens, probably hundreds, of incredible designs and..."

A fruitful, unique, and amazing career - his is definitely one of the original vegitects. Wells' work was definitely ahead of it's time, and his vision will be missed, but somehow I feel is already continuing on in ways Wells may possibly have not imagined. I'm guessing whatever is the next big thing, there's probably a sketch of somewhere in one of his journals, waiting to be rediscovered. Rest in Peace Malcolm.