Heffner

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Karli Heffner
July  2,  2013  
 
Gentle  Architecture:  A  Critical  Look  at  the  Importance  of  Gentle  and  
Sustainable  Architecture/Construction  Practices  
 
  Human   civilizations   have   made   exponential   industrial,   technological,   and  

construction  advancements  in  the  past  two  centuries.    This  period  of  progress  and  

change  altered  our  world  and  our  way  of  life  forever.    We  can  now  travel  in  hours,  

distances  that  used  to  take  days  if  not  months  to  traverse.    We  are  building  higher  

and  larger  structures  than  ever  before.  Towers  of  steel  and  glass  arise  to  pierce  the  

clouds   in   record-­‐breaking   speed.     All   of   the   changes   have   not   been   for   the   good,  

however,  we  have  consumed  natural  resources  at  unprecedented  rates,  paved  over  

uncountable  acres  across  the  globe,  and  pumped  pollutants  of  untold  amounts  into  

the  environment.    It  has  only  been  in  the  last  half  century  that  people  have  started  to  

truly   take   notice   of   this   darker   side   of   progress.     Among   the   many   participants   in  

energy   consumption   the   largest   contributors   are   buildings   and   the   construction  

industry.     It   is   not   surprising   then   that   the   field   of   architecture   has   had   many  

individuals   step   forward   to   champion   sustainable   and   green   movements.     Among  

these  movements  is  one,  which  was  championed  by  the  late  Malcolm  Wells.    Gentle  

Architecture,   is   the   name   Well’s   put   to   his   work   and   philosophy.     Gentle  

Architecture,  while  encompassing  sustainable  practices  and  technology  goes  a  step  

beyond  the  building  itself.    The  philosophy  of  gentle  architecture  takes  a  step  back  

and  looks  at  broader  issues  such  as  development  and  infrastructure.        

  To  understand  Gentle  architecture  it  is  important  to  have  an  understanding  

of   the   significance   of   the   most   common   terms   being   thrown   around   architectural  
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discussions   today:   sustainability.     Knowing   that   the   root   of   the   term   is   the   word  

sustain,  it  would  appear  to  be  a  simple  matter  of  applying  the  terms  definition  to  the  

field   of   architecture.     At   a   certain   level   this   is   true,   however   architecture   is   a   very  

complex   field.     The   term   can   be   used   in   conjunction   with   material   choices,  

construction   techniques,   post-­‐construction   user   habits   and   applications,   energy  

production/consumption,  etc.    Due  to  this  variety  of  definitions  and  applications  it  is  

important   to   keep   an   open   and   flexible   mind   when   dealing   with   the   concept   of  

sustainability   in   architecture.     It   is   also   important   to   note   that   the   common  

conception  of  sustainable  architecture  has  of  late  been  directed  towards  images  of  

highly   technologically   advanced   buildings   rising   up   in   the   middle   of   urban  

environments   with   lush   landscaping   and   interiorscaping.     Architecture   and  

development   however   does   not   stop   with   city   limits,   they   extend   into   every  

inhabited   corner   of   the   country,   and   it   is   in   rural   America   where   one   of   the   most  

significant  battlefields  lies.      

  Few   would   argue   the   statement   that   nature   has   value.     The   question   is  

instead,  “what  is  that  value?”  Studies  conflict  and  have  yet  to  verify  the  exact  value  

of  nature  but  as  stated  by  Stephen  Kaplan,    

Nature  seems  to  be  important  to  people…  it  is  hard  to  justify  the  role  
nature   plays   in   rational   terms.   In   fact,   people   with   relatively   little  
money   are   no   less   likely   than   the   more   affluent   to   have   a   splash   of  
colorful   flowers   in   front   of   their   homes…The   grief   neighbors   feel  
when   “their”   tree   is   removed   can   hardly   be   explained   by   economic  
grounds  (Kaplan  1).  
 
  It   is   possible   for   alternative   explanation   to   be   provided   for   these   examples,  

all   the   same   they   provide   circumstantial   evidence,   “that   nature   is   important   in   itself  

rather  than  for  some  extrinsic  reason  (Kaplan  1).    Operating  under  this  context,  that  
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nature   has   value   in   and   of   itself,   it   is   easy   to   understand   the   call   for   the  

reintroduction   of   nature   into   urban   sites.     Why   then   if   we   are   able   to   understand  

and   recognize   the   importance   of   nature   in   these   highly   developed   areas   why   are   we  

so   apt   to   simply   pave   over   fields   and   forests   for   the   sake   of   parking   lots   and   strip  

malls  in  more  rural  regions?    Individuals  who  live  rural  areas  would  often  admit  to  

loving  the  great  expanse  of  nature  stretching  out  from  their  doorsteps,  but  will  still  

leap  at  the  chance  to  have  a  new  retail  district  in  town,  or  not  hesitate  to  pave  a  new  

parking  lot  even  if  it  may  cost  a  few  trees.      

  Nature  is  amazingly  resilient.    We  can  rip  up  trees,  burn  out  roots,  and  pave  

acres  until  we  are  blue  in  the  face,  but  if  we  stop  for  just  a  moment  and  step  back  we  

will  see  an  even  more  incredible  process.    During  a  trip  across  the  country  in  1997,  

to   document   the   extents   of   our   most   sprawling   works,   Malcolm   Wells   saw   all   stages  

of   this   process   underway.   He   documented   highway   construction   projects   running  

for  hundreds  of  miles,  strip  mines  eating  mountains,  and  forests  denuded  (RA  20).    

At  the  same  time  he  also  saw  the  resourcefulness  of  nature  at  her  finest.    Abandoned  

parking  lots  and  shopping  centers  being  retaken  bit  by  bit.  What  started  as  nothing  

more  than  dirt  and  dust  and  cracks  in  the  asphalt  was  becoming  grass,  wildflowers,  

and   trees   (RA   54).     In   town   after   town   and   state   after   state,   Well’s   photographs   help  

to   prove   beyond   any   doubt   that   we   are   paving   over   and   demolishing   our   natural  

environment  at  an  unprecedented  rate,  at  the  same  time  though  nature  continues  to  

prove  that  no  matter  how  much  we  try  to  erase  it,  nature  will  always  find  a  way  to  

come   back   if   given   the   smallest   of   footholds.     Thankfully   we   are   not   perfect   and  

neither  are  our  designs,  so  footholds  exist  everywhere.      

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  This  is  where  the  philosophy  of  gentle  architecture  flourishes.     The   root   of  

gentle   architecture   lies   in   a   reverence   for   life,   by   recognizing   the   reality   that   the  

green  plants  unique  to  the  third  planet  should  be  held  as  priority  number  one.  

Take  away  all  governments  and  armies,  take  away  all  businesses  and  
industries,   take   away   all   communications;   take   away   cars,   house,  
cities,   hospitals   schools   and   libraries;   take   away   electricity,   clothes,  
medicine,   and   police;   take   away   everything   in   fact,   but   the   green  
plants,  and  most  of  us  would  survive.  But  take  away  the  plants  and  we  
would  all  die.    That’s  how  important  they  are  (GA  19).  
 
It   is   with   this   thought   in   mind   that   gentle   architecture’s   practice   follows   one   key  

rule:   “improve   the   land   when   you   build,   or   don’t   build   there.”   According   to   Wells,  

the  next  great  frontier  for  architects  and  engineers  are  the  parking  lots,  strip  mines  

and   worn   out   farms   we   have   worked   so   hard   to   cultivate   over   the   recent   decades  

(GA  19).    People  though  are  never  that  simple.  While  we  may  be  able  to  agree  on  the  

benefits   of   reclaiming,   reusing,   and   rehabilitating   these   sites   those   who   need   to  

build  will  not  always  be  willing  to  relocate  to  where  the  parking  lot  was.    People  will  

continue   to   insist   on   building   on   virgin   soil,   it   is   because   of   this   reality   we,   as  

architects,   must   learn   to   adapt   our   practices   and   designs.     “But   first   we’ve   got   to  

commit  ourselves,  for  life,  to  the  idea  of  land-­‐respect  (GA  8).”  

  The   groundwork   for   such   designs   and   architecture   are   already   at   our  

fingertips.     Almost   everywhere   we   turn   new   technologies   are   being   developed   to  

save   energy,   water,   and   the   very   air   we   breathe   from   waste   and   pollution.     Both  

active  and  passive  systems  have  already  been  created.  Sun,  wind,  and  water  can  be  

harnessed  to  help  reduce  our  consumption  of  other  natural  un-­‐renewable  resources  

and   electricity.     Passive   solar   design   can   be   used   for   space   heating   and   lighting,  

reducing  a  home’s  demand  for  electricity.    By  focusing  on  thermal  mass,  improving  
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the   building   envelope,   providing   adequate   shading   devices,   choosing   a   favorable  

building   orientation/site   and   shape   a   solar   house   can   optimize   it’s   performance  

(Hachem  1).    Small  design  changes  can  have  great  impacts;  heating  loads  can  vary  

up   to   thirty   percent   with   a   change   in   orientation   of   sixty   degrees   east   or   west   of  

south.    Glazing  on  the  façade  influence  the  amount  and  timing  of  solar  heat  gain  by  

changing  size  and  location  of  windows.  In  northern  climates  south-­‐facing  windows  

can  maximize  gains  in  the  heating  season  and  minimize  during  the  cooling  season.    

Glazing  on  the  east  or  west  facing  facades  however,  have  the  reverse  effect  (Hachem  

1).  

  Natural   lighting   has   more   to   offer   than   just   energy   and   cost   saving   benefits  

though.     Studies   have   shown   that   daylight,   or   the   lack   thereof,   can   impact   the   health  

and   wellbeing   of   building   users   (Barrett   10).       Lack   of   light   is   believed   to   be   the  

cause   of   the   illness   SAD,   or   seasonal   affective   disorder.     A   behavioral   illness  

resulting   in   depression,   low   energy,   and   disturbed   eating   and   sleep   patterns.    

Changes   in   the   pattern   of   light   during   winter   have   been   accredited   with   causing  

damaging   effects   on   biorhythms   of   humans   (Barrett   10-­‐11).       The   ramifications   of  

choice’s   designers   make   extend   beyond   the   physical   wellbeing   of   building  

inhabitants,  and  it  is  time  that  we  step  up  to  challenge  of  designing  not  only  for  the  

bodies  of  users  but  for  their  minds  as  well.    As  R.G.  Hopkinson  said,  “the  architect’s  

task   of   creating   a   favorable   environment   for   living   and   working   demands   a   study   of  

the  response  of  the  human  being  to  this  environment”  (Barrett  16).    

  Architects   must   accept   the   fact   that   the   goal   of   design   and   architecture   is   not  

to   design   glorified   shelters,   but   environments.     We   share   this   burden   with   many  
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other   design   professions,   interior   designers,   city   planners,   and   civil   engineers   to  

name   a   few.     The   word   environment   brings   with   it   a   natural   connotation   of   a  

complete   and   self-­‐supporting/sustaining   system.     In   order   to   successfully   design  

such   a   whole   it   is   important   to   design   with   the   intention   of   providing   for   both  

physical  and  psychological  needs.    Psychology,  environmental  and  the  more  recently  

termed  design  psychology,  plays  a  pivotal  role  in  being  able  to  provide  a  complete  

environment.     Environmental   psychology,   in   particular,   is   concerned   with   “the  

effects   of   the   physical-­‐spatial   environment   on   behavior,   how   individuals   perceive  

the   physical-­‐spatial   environment,   and   the   social   use   of   space”   (Kaye   104).    

Residential   architectural   design   has   historically   been   driven   by   intuition,   a  

potentially  dangerous  tool  if  works  are  not  reviewed  and  followed  up  to  determine  

success.   In   residential   design   the   social   uses   of   spaces   play   an   important   role,   and  

uses   can   change   depending   on   culture,   age,   occupation,   and   other   variables.     The  

importance   of   the   kitchen,   for   example,   extends   beyond   the   utilitarian   purpose   of  

food  preparation  and  is  also  used  by  many  as  a  social  gathering  place  as  well  (Kaye  

107).     “Design   programming   should   take   into   account   the   needs   of   the   users,   the  

behavior   of   the   people   in   the   physical-­‐spatial   environment,   the   perception   of   and  

the  testing  of  intuitive  notions  (Kaye  107).”        

  The  study  of  the  mind  and  our  understanding  of  how  it  works  is  an  evolving  

field.    Neuroscience  is  discovering  that  the  human  brain  is  far  more  changeable  then  

scientists   used   to   think.     Our   brains   can   be   reformed   and   rewired,   neural  

connections  can  even  be  regenerated  in  the  case  of  trauma  or  damage.    “The  things  

we  say  and  do,  and  even  feel,  can  help  in  this  process.  Presumably,  the  places  and  
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environments   in   which   we   live   can   also   help   (or   hinder)”   (Beatley   1).     This   evolving  

science  is  teaching  us  new  things  about  our  brains  and  why  we  operate  the  way  we  

do.    As  designers  it  is  key  that  we  understand,  in  order  to  design  places  that  make  

people  happy,  how  the  brain  works.    Green  spaces  are  needed  parts  of  designs  for  

productive  and  healthy  individuals  (Beatley  1).      Studies  have  shown  that  interaction  

with   nature   has   cognitive   benefits.     A   study   at   the   University   of   Michigan   conducted  

two  separate  experiments  focusing  on  attention  restoration  theory  (ART)  (Berman  

1207).    “ART  is  based  on  past  research  showing  the  separation  of  attention  into  two  

components:   involuntary   attention,   where   attention   is   captured   by   inherently  

intriguing  or  important  stimuli,  and  voluntary  or  directed  attention,  where  attention  

is   directed   by   cognitive-­‐control   processes”   (Berman   1207).     The   experiments  

conducted   focused   on   directed   attention   and   how   it   may   be   restored   or   replenished  

by   interaction   with   nature.     The   studies   found   that   participants   who   had   been  

exposed   to   nature   prior   to   being   asked   to   complete   a   task   based   on   directed-­‐

attention   abilities   scored   noticeably   higher   than   individuals   exposed   to   urban  

environments  (Berman  1208-­‐1209).  

  Research  has  shown  that  nature  helps  improve  our  memory  and  our  ability  

to  focus,  perhaps  we  should  take  advantage  of  this  and  look  a  little  deeper  at  what  

else   nature   can   teach   us.     We   work   so   hard   everyday   to   try   to   conquer   nature,   bend  

her   to   our   will,   and   establish   ourselves   as   the   greatest   force   on   earth.     Nature’s  

response:  tornados,  earthquakes,  hurricanes,  and  tsunamis.    Anything  we  build  up,  

nature  can  bring  down.    So  why  fight  against  nature  and  the  inevitable?    Why  fight  

so  hard  to  build  against  the  forces  of  nature?  Why  not  build  with  them?    When  we,  
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as  designers,  begin  to  look  at  nature  as  a  teacher  rather  than  an  enemy,  that  is  when  

we  begin  to  create  buildings  that  will  truly  last.      

  In  order  to  do  this  it  will  take  a  major  shift  in  the  way  we  think  about  design.    

No   longer   will   we   be   designing   for   the   sake   of   keeping   nature   out.   Instead   our  

designs   will   work   along   nature,   alongside   the   natural   climate.     Our   buildings   will   be  

shaped   by   the   climate   and   with   the   climate.     The   theories   regarding   form   and  

function  will  be  rewritten,  form  and  function  will  follow  climate.    Around  the  world  

designers  are  beginning  design  in  this  way.    In  France,  designers  harness  the  unique  

natural  properties  of  the  soil  to  purify  and  temper  the  air  (Rahm  7).    The  rooms  of  

the  house  are  then  organized  in  accordance  with  the  purity  of  the  air,  air  flows  first  

to  bedrooms  and  living  spaces,  then  to  the  kitchen  and  finally  to  the  bathroom.    In  

this  way  the  purity  of  the  air,  from  fresh  to  stale,  determined  the  placement  of  the  

rooms   of   the   house.     Cascading   down,   the   rooms   work   to   together   to   form   a   passive  

system  to  help  air  flow  through  the  space  (Rahm  7).  

  Perhaps   the   oldest   form   of   architecture,   which   works   with   climate   and  

nature,   is   underground   architecture.     Underground   architecture   has   with   modern  

structural   systems   begun   to   take   an   entirely   new   meaning.     No   longer   does   the  

phrase   underground   architecture   have   to   conjure   up   visions   of   dark,   damp   caves.    

With   the   aide   of   concrete   and   steel   we   can   lift   the   earth   above   our   heads   and   create  

an  entirely  new  landscape.    A  landscape  of  lush  green  foliage  to  replace  the  empty  

asphalt  parking  lots  and  barren  roofs  we  are  so  accustomed  to  today.    

We   look   at   architecture   the   wrong   way:   sideways,   so   what   we   see   is  

only   a   thin   sliver   of   the   reality   all   around   us.   A   bit   of   landscaping,  
which   is   in   reality   only   a   window   dressing,   can   often   make   the   most  
brutal   land-­‐killer,   the   most   desert   of   asphalt   look   relatively   benign.    
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To  see  architecture  fully  you  must  tip  it  up,  stand  it  on  its  edge.    When  
you  do,  you  always  see  a  dead  land  on  display  (RA  16).    
 
Malcolm   Wells   spent   a   lifetime   documenting,   designing,   and   promoting  

underground  and  earth-­‐berm  architecture  as  the  way  of  the  future.    While  some  of  

his   designs   were   fantastical   representations   of   cities   reborn   anew,   as   towers  

overflowing  with  greenery  and  cascading  down  into  rolling  hills  of  green  roofs,  he  

also  had  a  much  more  practical  view  of  the  way  of  the  world.    “As  I  see  it,  all  we  need  

to   do   is   start…one   by   one…”   with   small   projects,   bit   by   bit   we   can   take   back   our  

world,  or  rather  give  back  our  world  to  nature  (GA  31).      

  Green   is   not   just   a   catchy   word   for   a   contemporary   movement.     It   is   what  

keeps  our  world  alive,  and  the  way  we  know  it.    Plants  provide  us  with  food,  shelter,  

materials,   even   the   air   we   breathe.     If   there   are   no   plants,   there   is   no   life.     This   is  

why   we   must   learn   to   coexist   in   a   way   that   is   both   sustainable   and   mutually  

beneficial.       There   is   no   excuse   besides   our   own   carelessness   that   has   cost   us   so  

many   miles   of   forests   and   meadows.     We   have   the   means   to   build   a   world   where  

both   people   and   plants   can   thrive;   we   just   need   to   care   enough   to   do   so.     Gentle  

architecture,   underground   and   earth-­‐berm   architecture,   can   allow   us   to   reclaim  

countless   acres   of   land   and   return   it   to   life.     In   1982   there   were   roughly   only   fifteen  

to  twenty  architects  practicing  or  specializing  in  underground  architecture,  but  over  

20,000   potential   clients   in   the   market   for   such   structures   (GA   61).   One   can   be  

certain   that   with   growing   awareness   and   contemporary   sustainable   movement   that  

the  number  of  clients  has  grown,  but  has  the  number  of  specializing  architects  come  

close  to  filling  this  need?    In  architecture  schools,  sustainability  is  stressed,  but  why?    

Is   it   because   of   an   honest   attempt   to   teach   young   designers   the   importance   of   the  

 Heffner  - 10 -  

species   we   share   the   planet   with   and   the   rampant   state   of   destruction   industry  

leaves   in   its   wake?   Or   is   it   instead   because   sustainability   is   the   new   trend?     It   is  

doubtful  that  it  is  the  later,  but  in  student  critiques  green  spaces,  meant  to  exemplify  

sustainability,  are  carefully  manicured  lawns  and  weeded  flowerbeds.    Is  this  really  

sustainable?    Lawns  of  toxic  green  grass  and  plantings  weeded  to  within  an  inch  of  

their   life   and   sprayed   with   chemicals   to   keep   it   that   way.     This   is   nothing   more   than  

the   window   dressings   Wells   spoke   of.     Tools   used   to   draw   the   eye   away   from   the  

larger  picture;  that  the  buildings  are  still  killing  the  land  they  are  being  built  on.      

  Gentle   architecture   offers   the   beginnings   of   a   solution   to   this   rampant  

problem,  but  it  will  take  commitment  to  see  real  results.    Imagine  manicured  green  

roofs  replaced  by  true  fields  of  deep,  rich  topsoil  above  well-­‐drained  and  insulated  

roofs  with  hundred-­‐year  weatherproofing  (GA  30).    These  will  be  buildings  that  are  

returning  life  to  their  sites  rather  than  stealing  it  from  them.    These  structures  will  

provide   people   with   safe,   warm   and   psychologically   rejuvenating   environments.    

They  will  be  designed  to  function  in  harmony  with  the  climate,  and  draw  inspiration  

from  it.    Gentle  architecture  holds  the  potential  to  change  the  world,  but  not  at  the  

break-­‐neck   speed   of   the   industrial   and   technological   revolutions.     Gentle  

architecture   is   a   movement   much   like   nature   itself,   piece   by   piece,   learning   from  

experience,  we  can  build  a  world  which  will  truly  last  and  live.      

 
 Heffner  - 11 -  

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Wells,  Malcolm.  Recovering  America:  [a  more  gentle  way  to  build].  Cape  Cod,  MA:  
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