Biosphere 2 / Peter Jon Pearce
Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona.
In 2019 I was researching a plastic bubble (aka Playspace Structures) I played on when I was a kid and I discovered it and Biosphere 2 were invented by Peter Jon Pearce, a former Eames Office employee. He designed and produced the frame and glazing materials for Biosphere 2.
As a staff designer at the Eames Office from 1958 to 1961, he helped with the Eames Tandem Seating, Aluminum Group Base, La Fonda Base, Segmented Table Base, Time Life Chair, and Eames Sofa. More about the Eames work on his (website). Funny aside, on his website I notice he lifted a photo from my blog from the time I visited the Herman Miller archives.
Biosphere 2 (Biosphere 1 is earth) was constructed from 1987 to 1991 and is still a functioning controlled artificial environment dedicated to climate research. The project was started by a group of former thespian commune members with asperations of living in space. They were funded by oil billionaire Ed Bass. The initial 1991 experiment included eight crew members who were sealed into the structure for what was supposed to be two years. The idea was for them to be self sufficient. There were some issues and technically didn't make it and it was a huge media spectacle. The project then went through a rocky time that included a stint when Steve Bannon was running the show. ASU has since took over and is now running what seems like a serious operation.
The Habitat and research station.
The overall design and concept for Biosphere 2 was conceived by engineer John P. Allen, who was the director of Space Biospheres Ventures that purchased the property in 1984. Phil Hawes was the architect of record for the project. He was at Taliesin West from 1955-56. Frank Lloyd Wright certainly casts quite a large shadow. Peter Jon Pearce designed the Habitat structure above.
Biosphere 2 is 7,200,000 cubic feet under sealed glass, with 6,500 windows. In order to have a true self-sufficient environment the structure had to be airtight. Initially, Peter Jon Pearce was just supplying the frame for the structure. However, after there were problems getting the structure to seal, he was asked to design the glazing as well.
