"Living Lightly on the Earth:" Building an Ark for Prince Edward Island 1974‑76

TITLE : "Living Lightly on the Earth:" Building an Ark for Prince Edward Island, 1974-76

AUTHOR : Steven Mannell

DESIGNERS : David Bergmark and Ole Hammarlund of Solsearch Architects with the New Alchemy Institute

INTRODUCTION : Daniel A. Barber  

SUBJECT :  Built in 1976 by Solsearch Architects and the New Alchemy Institute as “an early exploration in weaving together the sun, wind, biology, and architecture for the benefit of humanity,” the Ark bioshelter integrated ecological design features to provide a self-reliant life for a family. Like the design itself, the Ark’s opening day brought counterculture together with official culture: Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Premier Alex Campbell, New Alchemists and Appropriate Technology activists, and neighbours from traditional Island communities. Thousands more would visit the Ark over its short life. “Living Lightly on the Earth:” Building an Ark for Prince Edward Island, 1974-76 explores the story of the Ark and its architectural vision of life led in collaboration with nature.  

FORMAT : 8.5" x 8.5", softcover, 116 pages, colour images

PUBLISHED : February 2018

ISBN : 9780929112695

PRICE : $39.95 (CAD)    

AWARDS : 2019 PEI Heritage Activity Award, 2019 Melva J. Dwyer Award finalist

REVIEWS : Alan MacEachern, Network in Canadian History and Environment (NiCHE), 2019

Graham Livesey, Canadian Architect, review of the Canadian Modern series, 2018

LINKS : The PEI Ark Catalogue

Exhibition homepage, Confederation Centre of the Arts

Steve Rose, "The Circle of Life," The Observer / Design 2019 (London, UK), 29 September, 2019.