Arcosanti
34°20′35.16″N 112°6′9″W / 34.3431000°N 112.10250°W
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Arcosanti is an experimental town that began construction in 1970 in central Arizona, 70 miles (110 km) north of Phoenix, at an elevation of 3,732 feet (1,130 meters). Architect Paolo Soleri, using a concept he calls arcology (a portmanteau of architecture and ecology), started the town to demonstrate how urban conditions could be improved while minimizing the destructive impact on the earth.
Overview
Arcosanti is being built on 25 acres (0.1 km²) of a 4,060 acre (16 km²) land preserve, keeping its inhabitants near the natural countryside. In an arcology, architecture and ecology come together in the design of the city. According to the Arcosanti Web site, arcology "advocates cities designed to maximize the interaction and accessibility associated with an urban environment; minimize the use of energy, raw materials and land, reducing waste and environmental pollution; and allow interaction with the surrounding natural environment."[1] The major concepts of an arcology are complexity, miniaturization, and duration.
The long-term design of Arcosanti has changed multiple times since work began. The eventual target population is somewhere between 3,000 and 6,000. The population generally varies between 50 and 150 people, chiefly fluctuating with the number of students, interns, and volunteers working. Existing structures include a five-story visitors' center/cafe/gift shop, a bronze-casting apse (quarter-dome), a ceramics apse, two large barrel vaults, a ring of apartment residences and storefronts around an outdoor amphitheater, a community swimming pool, an office complex, and Soleri's suite. A two-bedroom "Sky Suite" occupies the highest point in the complex and is available for overnight guests. Residences, production, open space, studios, and educational and cultural events are all accessible, while privacy is paramount in the overall design.
Most of the buildings are oriented toward the south to capture the sun's light, heat and energy. In particular, the apses see the greatest effect by admitting the maximum amount of sun in the winter and a minimal amount during the summer.
Architecturally, Arcosanti is remarkable for its use of tilt-up concrete panels cast in a bed of silt from the local landscape. The silt gives the concrete a unique texture and color, helping the structure to blend with the land. Art is ever-present in the city, with most ceilings having silt-cast art panels embedded on them. Most rooftops are accessible, adding another dimension to the city. The intricate, organic design of the city maximizes land use, so Arcosanti feels much bigger than it actually is. Similarly, the entire population of the city may be small, but living closely in a dynamic environment increases interactions and bonds, creating abundant stimulus and opportunity.
The city serves as an education complex where workshops and classes are offered. Students from around the world construct Arcosanti. In addition, about 50,000 tourists visit Arcosanti each year. [citation needed]
Funds to build Arcosanti are raised through the sale of windbells. Additional funds are raised from workshop tuitions, which people pay for a one-, two-, or five-week hands-on experience. Workshop participants, together with the resident construction crew, are the principal means by which Arcosanti is constructed.
The Arcosanti site also contains a camp area that was built for the original construction crew. It exists today as additional housing and is home to the agricultural department which maintains greenhouses, gardens, and agricultural fields. Additional terraced greenhouses are planned along the slope of the main building site to provide gardening space and collect heat which will be funneled throughout the buildings.
Jon Jerde acknowledged Paolo Soleri as being one of his influences, and continues to build arcologies throughout the world.
Criticism
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Arcosanti has been criticized for a lack of funding to realize its vision within a practical timeframe. [citation needed]
It has been suggested that even if any major discoveries or theories are achieved through the gradual development of the Arcosanti project, there is now no formal structure to gather, record, and disseminate these ideas to interested stakeholders. The internet, however, may be a perfect host for these purposes.
Others argue that Arcosanti has succeeded more as an educational project.[citation needed] It has hosted over 6,000 participants over what has been almost 40 years. Each person that participates brings part of their experience home with them and to their communities and professional disciplines, disseminating the principles learned.
References
- ^ Paolo Soleri Biography, Arcosanti.org
See also
External links
- Official Arcosanti website
- Arcosanti alumni address book
- The Arcosanti Work Song (c)1972
- Andrea Sachs, "Arcosanti: A 'City' Grows Green in the Arizona Desert", Washington Post, April 20, 2008
- Chris Colin, "Sipping From a Utopian Well in the Desert", New York Times, September 16, 2007