Brought to life 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 on P.E.I. integrated ecological design features to provide autonomous life support for a family.
Opening day for the Ark in the fall of ?76 mixed counterculture together with official culture: Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Premier Alex Campbell, Whole Earth Catalog compiler Stewart Brand, and hundreds from P.E.I.?s counterculture settlements and neighbouring traditional communities. Thousands more would visit the Ark in Spry Point, Kings County over its short life.
Forty years later, a new exhibition opening at Confederation Centre Art Gallery explores the story of the Ark for P.E.I., and its architectural vision of life led in collaboration with nature. “Living lightly on the earth:” building an Ark for Prince Edward Island, 1974-76 opens this month and will be celebrated with an official opening reception on Saturday, October 22nd at 7 p.m. in the Gallery. The lead sponsor for the exhibition is PEI Energy Systems, A Veresen Company, with additional sponsorship from the Architects Association of P.E.I. ?Even today, many people in the Maritimes and around the world have heard of the P.E.I. Ark, and are inspired by the vision it represents; but it?s mostly understood in almost mythical terms,? reflects Exhibition Curator, Steven Mannell, who directs t...