Tenacious Vision of Ecology Through Architecture
Another future-minded living
experiment can also be found in the desert of Arizona: Arcosanti.
Arcosanti is an entire city under construction near the town
of Mayer, north of Phoenix. It is a city designed by the architect
Paolo Soleri, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.
While there is evidence of
the influence of Wright's Arizona style in the idealistic architecture
of Soleri, the Italian architect's plan, in scale at least,
is more like the modernist urban utopia designs of Le Corbusier
and Sant' Elia. However, in his principles of design --the ideas
that are manifested in the forms of his Great City-- Soleri
is unique. He has developed an entire living system based on
his concept of Archology (architecture and ecology).
Soleri believes that through
the balanced, organic forms of his architecture, many of the
social ills associated with modern urban life will decrease.
He seems to maintain the conviction that architecture and the
imposition of artistic forms into daily life can radically change
society.
Arcosanti (one of numerous Arcologies Soleri has
designed, but the only large-scale project he is building) has
been under construction since 1970, and the builders of the
city are also its residents. For more than 25 years, people
have come to Arcosanti to learn from the master architect and
craftsman, who is also famous for his cast metal bells, and
to work on his city of the future.
Currently around 50 people live, work, come and
go at Arcosanti. Most residents pay for the privilege, with
money or work, though usually both. And most seem to value the
experience as a training for how to, and how not to, operate
an intentional community of their own.
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Arcosanti, the model (top) is a city
of 2,000 people. The section within the white square represents
the portion completed in the photo below.
CLUI photo
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