Dec. 2007–Dec. 2008: The Outsider Series

These columns ran in Builder/Architect magazine. They feature the work of Malcolm Wells, Kirk Peterson, Charles Durrett, Kathryn McCamant, Kelly Lerner, and Nader Khalili.

Dec. 2007: “Rebels with a Cause,” featuring the work of Malcolm Wells, Kirk Peterson, Charles Durrett, and Kathryn McCamant

Feb. 2008: “Fringe Benefits,” featuring the cohousing of Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant

Apr. 2008: “The Great Shakeup,” which describes the way Malcolm Wells turned away from conventional buildings in favor of underground architecture

May 2008: “Going to Extremes,” which describes the way Malcolm Wells became passionately imbalanced after an epiphany about underground architecture

June 2008: “The Vision Becomes a Reality,” which describes the way Malcolm Wells set out to prove his vision of underground architecture

July 2008: “Waiting for the World to Wake Up,” which describes the impact that Malcolm Wells has had on the world

Aug. 2008: “Kelly Lerner: Happily on the Fringes,” which introduces architect Kelly Lerner, who is probably responsible for more straw bale buildings than anyone in the world

Sept. 2008: “Nader Khalili: The Quintessential Outsider Architect,” which introduces the late architect Nader Khalili, who advocated dome-shaped earthen architecture

Oct. 2008: “Burning with a Visionary Fire,” which shows, through the example of the late architect Nader Khalili, what it’s like to formulate and pursue passionate visions

Nov. 2008: “Spreading the Fire,” which shows how the late architect Nader Khalili inspired others to define and pursue quests in their lives

Dec. 2008: “Turning Point,” my final Builder/Architect column, which described a crisis of meaning I faced and the way I drew inspiration from several outsider architects