LIVING SYSTEMS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Architect
• Architect & General Contractor

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Michael was witness to that area's uncontrolled growth. Choosing to direct his energies toward a more sustainable solution to our built environment, Michael obtained his architectural degree from Arizona State University in 1973. Unlike most architects of that time, however, Michael focused exclusively on sustainable practices; particularly on high mass earthen buildings that promoted passive solar heating and cooling. One of his earliest designs - featured in Arizona Highways - was the Greib Home, the first passive solar home in Arizona. Again, unlike most architects, Michael recognized early in his career that quality architecture - one designed to meet both a specified budget and high sustainable building standards - is only as good as one's knowledge of sustainable construction. Michael, therefore, worked in the construction field for two years before opening his own architectural practice. In 1976, Michael began Living Systems, an architectural practice dedicated to designing energy efficient, high mass, passive solar homes. Focusing first on adobe and rammed earth as his main wall building materials, Michael knew that there had to be a better method for "pouring" an earth-friendly soil cement material that would reduce both time and labor thereby making high-mass homes less expensive to build. By 1994, Michael had designed a mix that could do just that! Michael has become well regarded, nationally and internationally, as one of the leading architects in the field of high mass, earthen design and construction. Acting today as both architect and builder, Michael provides quality, creative architectural services that promise to meet the client's budget and aesthetic desires. In 2015, Michael, with the help of Mike Gray, developed an even more INNOVATIVE and AFFORDABLE process for the pouring of an earth-friendly soil cement material called Form Free which eliminates the use of heavy, labor-intensive and expensive forms. Instead, this ground-breaking system makes use of internal "space frames" constructed of heavy wire mesh.