Arcosanti, Arizona – 2018
Nestled in the high desert north of Phoenix, Arcosanti is Paolo Soleri’s visionary arcology, a fusion of architecture and ecology that began in 1970. Conceived as a prototype for compact, sustainable urban living, only a fraction of the planned community was ever completed.
With its dramatic vaults, porthole windows, and earth-integrated concrete forms, the compound feels strikingly otherworldly - a sci-fi set brought to life. Built largely by volunteers and silt-cast on-site, the structures seem both sculptural and organic .
Arcosanti never reached the intended population of 5,000; it remains home to just 50–150 residents, yet the site continues to draw urban planners, architects, and students worldwide as a living laboratory for ecological design.
Though there’s no record of formal awards, Arcosanti’s legacy endures through its influence on sustainable design, its dedication to experiential learning, and its loyal global following that keeps Soleri’s arcology dream alive.
I joined a group of Minnesota-based architectural photographers to stay overnight and document the brutalist-inspired compound in 2019. The silence, the vaulting concrete, the alien silhouettes against the desert sky, all reinforce Arcosanti’s timeless presence and its continuing dialogue with the future of community and place.
© 2019 JC Buck
