O M A R H A Z A E L

So, it has been a week since the first day at Arcosanti. And now I can realise about how much beauty and potential this place has. Well known for the FORM festival and the history that precedes Paolo Soleri, Arcosanti has become a milestone for the study and practice of Architecture and Ecology.

“In 1970, the Foundation began construction of Arcosanti, a prototype arcology, in order to physically test Soleri’s urban planning concept. Paolo Soleri and his wife Colly established the Cosanti Foundation in 1965 in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Arcosanti builders who came through the workshop program made the current Arcosanti possible. The term Cosanti comes from two Italian words “Cosa” and “Anti” and means literally, “before things.” Cosanti, a non-profit educational institution focuses on ideas about urban design.” -Arcosanti

With all the history behind this place, Roger, one of the participants and curators who started the project back in the 70’s gives us a tour of the site, accompanied by concepts, the ideology of “Arcology” and a couple of funny stories from some of their characters during all these years. The second day of workshop we have a Nature Walk with Roger, a four-hour hike through the valley, observing plant species, geological formations, the erosion of the place through time, and some details about the ancient communities of natives who lived in the area.

But, the workshop is also accompanied during these days by some theoretical classes; geography, prehistory, basic terms of ecology and the architecture used in the project. And Tomiaki, another traveler who has been immersed in the project since 1975, student of architecture, who eager to learn, crossed the Pacific to become part of the project since then.

As Arcology is described as the fusion of architecture with ecology,  a comprehensive urban perspective. In nature, as organisms evolve, they increase in complexity and become a more compact system. A city should similarly evolve, functioning as a living system. Architecture and ecology as one integral process, is capable of demonstrating positive response to the many problems of urban civilization – population growth, pollution, energy/natural resource depletion, food scarcity, and quality of life. Arcology recognizes the necessity of the radical reorganization of the sprawling urban landscape into dense, integrated, three-dimensional cities in order to support the diversified activities that sustain human culture and environmental balance.

While the first days we focused on theory and field knowledge, at the end of the week we started our journey towards Cosanti in Scottsdale, AZ, the initial site of the project. Settled on a 5-acre plot in Paradise Valley in 1955. He was later joined by his students and began work on the experimental buildings of Cosanti. It presents a unique bio-climatic architectural environment. Its structures feature many imaginative design elements, reflecting Soleri’s innovative construction techniques.

Most of these structures were built using the earth-casting method. Concrete was poured over pre-shaped earthen forms; the earth excavated once the concrete solidified. Many are built below ground level and surrounded by mounds of earth. This acts as natural insulation to help moderate interior temperatures year round. South facing apses are used at Cosanti and Arcosanti as year-round outdoor workspaces, providing sunny space in the winter and shady conditions in the summer as the architecture employs the changing angle of the sun.

Working in Cosanti for three days, was an amazing experience; we could learned basic methods of how the place was built in the company of Roger. Also Maria, sister of Paolo who now lives in Cosanti working the ceramics and the bells that are made in the place. Finally Mary, Roger’s wife, they invited us to share breakfast in their house for morning breaks during the three days. A couple of old stories, good intentions and some racism, I think, politically acceptable (funny, though). And how to forget Arara, a macaw with almost 20 years old who at least once in each workshop bites someone. Beautiful animal (One of the highlights of every workshops).

And together with all the experience that Arcosanti represents it is a pleasure to be surrounded by nature, a steppe that represents extreme climates but at the same time full of surprise where one can find incredible sunsets and a beautiful fauna. Rattlesnakes, tarantulas, centipedes, huge grasshoppers and many other creatures to discover.

“The problem I am confronting is the present design of cities only a few stories high, stretching outward in unwieldy sprawl for miles. As a result, they literally transform the earth, turn farms into parking lots, wasting enormous amounts of time and energy transporting people, goods, & services over their expanses. My solution is urban implosion rather than explosion.” –Paolo Soleri, 1977

    All pictures were taken at Arcosanti, Cosanti and Taliesin. Arizona, USA.