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With Your Help, We Could Have America’s First Urban Earthship, Whatever That Is

Michael Reynolds, inventor and architect of the Earthship (above) will be lecturing at the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology from April 6th to the 8th about the Earthship and sustainability. The lecture also serves as step one to having America’s first Earthship built here in Philadelphia. As the press release so rudely reminds us, “Philadelphia is one of the most toxic, blighted, and unemployed cities in America,” and Yeadon based nonprofit LoveLovingLove, Inc. wants to help fix that.

So what exactly is the Earthship? It is a “solar passive home” made from natural and recycled materials that can heat and cool itself, supply its own electricity, and most interestingly provide its own food and water. Rashida Ali-Campbell, executive director of LoveLovingLove Inc. said:

If we take one vacant lot and show the city what it can be, I think people will respond all over the city. People are tired of living in these conditions. These homes will help. Further, if unemployed citizens can be taught to build these structures, we can create a booming sustainable economy in low income neighborhoods.”

The seminar will also work as a fundraiser to bring the first urban Earthship in the United States to Philadelphia. More info is available here.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 26th, 2012 at 2:54 pm.

  • personality

    i wish my house could heart itself…

  • http://www.lordwhimsy.com/ lord_whimsy

    Guys: This area is where this sort of stuff began. Something like earthships were designed and built back in the late 60′s by the recently-late local architect Malcolm “Mac” Wells, who pioneered the idea of underground architecture. His underground studio can still be seen over in Collingswood. And another one of his underground houses is out in Shamong Twp., which was, until recently, a yoga studio. Look him up. Friends of mine knew him. Great guy:

    http://www.malcolmwells.com/malcolm.html

    His underground Collingswood office:
    http://lord-whimsy.livejournal.com/407265.html?thread=5580769

  • Zombie Larry

    As a Jew, I am not liking the obvious Islamic influenced design. In fact, I find it offensive.

  • rk

    As another jew, i find it offensive to even think about linking my faith to finding architectural elements from Islamic cultures offensive. My quality of life and freedom of religion are in far more danger of attack from the type of hate and fear zombie larry espouses than from islamic architecture or culture.

    oh noes! the minarets are coming!

    back to watching people sing hall and oates in a van. did you know vans are used by muslims, larry? probably shouldn’t watch the video, else the evil van attack!

  • Snake

    As a reader of a snarky blog, I find it offensive that rk cannot detect sarcasm nor appreciate the humor intended by Larry’s post.

  • rk

    shit. sadly, there are enough crazy rightwing jews that i missed it. i blame my grandpa.

  • Zombie Larry

    snake is smart