The South West of the United States offers the space and landscape of an untouched desert. Founded by architect Paolo Soleri about 70 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona is Arcosanti, an ecologically-mindful project that considers itself to be an urban laboratory and is dedicated to finding radical and ecological solutions for contemporary built environments.
An educational project, but also a very interesting tourist destination, Arcosanti is a demonstration of an idea called “arcology,” which is an architectural approach with a minimal ecological footprint. The demonstration is also set to show that our own quality of life can be improved by considering the environment when settling within it.
The place offers accommodation, workshops, and walking tours, and has an onsite café to provide the visitors’ needs while they stay in the beautiful desert setting.
Drop in for a one-day visit, take the tour to learn about the community of Arcosanti and their cultural and ecological agenda, or stay the night to join workshops and visit the artists who live in the community.
The place is slightly old-fashioned in its design aesthetic, which dates back to the 1970s, but its purpose is interesting and still important in the 2020s.