Arcosanti: An Urban Laboratory

October 30, 2012

       Today we visited Arcosanti in central Arizona near Mayer to learn about how people can live in a dense area instead of in suburban sprawl. The architect, Paolo Soleri, used a concept called arcology, which combines the word architecture, which is designing and constructing buildings, with the word ecology, which is the interaction of people with their environment. Arcosanti's goals are to live as a community and to be frugal with time, space, and resources. One example of a multi-use area at Arcosanti are the stargazing steps which can be both steps and a place to view the night sky. Another idea practiced at Arcosanti is light harvesting and using passive sunlight. This is when the sun shines on bricks and concrete, and then heats the rooms. To make Arcosanti cooler, parts of buildings are underground; also water flows through areas to keep it cool by evaporation.

Only 5% of Arcosanti has been built.

We learned how bells are made with bronze. The bell makers take heated bronze and pour the hot bronze into a square shaped box filled with sand. One favorite part of the trip was seeing the bell makers pour the burning and fiery liquid bronze. I could feel how hot the liquid bronze was because my eyes were squinting from the heat. The importance of the bells, besides the artistic part of it, is to sell them to raise money so the architect can fund the building of more houses, and continue to expand the arcology community.

Paolo Soleri bells

            Our tour guide was named Danny. He was a very friendly man, and he knew a plethora of knowledge about the community. He lives in Arcosanti in a small apartment above his work area, which has a plethora of insects. Even though Arcosanti had some nasty desert critters, it was still an interesting and educational place to visit. Thank you Danny for exposing the Education Girlz to arcology!    

Facts:

     1. Arcosanti was built in the 1970's in central Arizona, near Mayer, Arizona, 1 hour and 22 minutes from here.
     2. Arcosanti’s location has an elevation of 3,372 feet and we are 1,124 feet, so we might be prepared for colder weather than here.
     3. We can visit Arcosanti from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, seven days a week 928-533-8295.
     4. The cost is a $10.00 suggested donation for each person.
     5. The architect, Paolo Soleri, wanted to use a concept called arcology which combines architecture and ecology.
     6. Arcosanti is an urban laboratory (not lavatory), which means it is an experimental town, focused on design and community.
     7. The town of Arcosanti is planned for 5,000 people; however, today it is home to just 60 residents.
     8. Today it continues to operate under the Cosanti Foundation which is located in Scottsdale.
     9. The Education Girlz have a reservation to take a private, two hour tour of Arcosanti on Monday, October 29, at 10 a.m. with Danny. We plan to have lunch in their café after the tour, and then take a short hike south of Arcosanti to get a view of this amazing city. We will stop at the Rock Springs Cafe for pie on the way home!

Star gazing steps.

Thanks Danny!

We sampled the pecan pie, the pumpkin pie, and the coconut cream pie!