When other architects aren't familiar with his genius, I explain that he taught Drop City how to build domes - which is the architectural equivalent of teaching Johnny Ramone how to play a power chord. RIP to one of the absolute giants.
He invented zomes - like domes, but made up of parallelograms rather than triangles so that they can be stretched to create vertical walls.
He invented numerous unpowered solar technologies including skylights that closed and opened automatically based on temperature, and unmotorized solar trackers. Due to the constraints of the time, these all depended on freon, but had Steve been working in the 21st century other safer refrigerants could have done the job as well.
He envangelized about the possibilities of passive heating systems, like Water Wall (which he used in his own home).
He believed passionately in the importance of solar technology not being taken over by large corporations, a belief that sadly didn't end up structuring the industry.
He invented an osmotic heat pipe, stolen from him by the Hughes Corp. and used to cool flight suits in fighter jets.
In 1981, I (a 17yr old from London travelling the USA by bus) spent a night on Steve's patio arguing about cross-subsidies (e.g. cities helping to pay for the cost of electrical and telephone systems in rural areas). We didn't agree but it was a cracking night.
In 2019, I sat on the same patio with a much diminished but still sizzling mind, and now lived only 60 miles away from him. Although it was not unexpected, I was still sad to see at the end of TFA that Steve finally died earlier this year. He was a giant of the alternative technology movement of the 60s/70s and early 80s, and stands as one of my heroes in life to this day.
He was one of the true greats, and thank you again for sharing.
