William Wilson Wurster (1895-1973) was a little-known but incredibly influential architect. His ideas extended far beyond his native California. In private practice and as head of architecture schools at the University of California at Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wurster shaped an entire generation of architects and city planners. The humble suburban ranch house was popularized by Wurster after his early designs took root in Northern California of the 1930s. Wurster was one of the earliest proponents of passive solar heat, using the sun to warm living rooms, patios, and taking advantage of the California sun to make small homes seem larger, brighter and warmer. While he is not known for "solar heat" per se, the example he set in taking advantage of natural elements in his simple homes is something that became a tenet of passive solar heating. This is an idea for the next millennium. Wurster was influenced by Thorsten Veblen's writings on the "conspicuous consumption of the leisure class" witnessed in the simple and economical homes he designed. Frank Lloyd Wright once jokingly called Wurster a "shanty architect," though Wright held him in high esteem. There are many ways to heat a home using the sun. Taking advantage of a southern and western exposure should be at the top of every architect's list. For more information on passive solar heat and smart architecture, go to http://www.ohrets.com/solar-passive.htm.   | Home | Cultural | Environmental | Musical | Ordinary | | Contact Us | About the Authors | © Copyright 2007 fiftythings