Our friend and my co-worker, Craig invited JoAnn and me to his home in Prescott for a week end. He had a guest house where we could stay
that
offered us all the privacy and comfort of a motel. Craig suggested we stop at Arcosanti on our way to Prescott and tour that unusual architectural project. It was
just off the main highway a couple of miles.
The
route to Prescott is through Phoenix and then north on highway 17, locally
known as the Black Canyon Freeway. Cordes
Junction is 55 plus miles up the freeway where highway 69 takes off to the left
for another 35 mile drive to Prescott.
To find Arcosanti we continued along side highway 17 another mile past
the junction, following a dirt road, which soon turned to the right toward a
significant canyon. Arriving at the edge
of the canyon an unusual collection of buildings came into view. They were built on the crest and down into
the canyon.
Arcosanti is an experimental community that began construction in 1970.
The
architect, Paolo Soleri, used a concept he labeled as “arcology”, a combination of architecture and
ecology. He designed the community to
demonstrate how urban conditions could be improved through architecture to
lessen the negative impact on the environment.
The location of the project is on 25 acres of a huge 4,060 acre land
preserve. When we visited the project it
was still considered a work in progress and I would guess still is. It was designed for a population of 5,000
when finished. The current number made
up of students and volunteers fluctuates between 50 and 150 people. A massive complex many times larger than the facility we visited, called Arcosanti 5000, was envisioned in his master plan.
The community is building slowly as funding and volunteer help becomes available. The primary function so far had been
education, with students coming from around the world, to study architecture
and ecology in workshops and classes. In
addition to the funds raised by education, the students participate in the
ongoing construction.
Tourist traffic of approximately 50,000 people per year also creates
funds for the project. Cultural performances
are sometimes scheduled in the outdoor amphitheater which draws good sized crowds. One of the staff I work with told
me of a festival held at Arcosanti in 1978.
The large crowd parked their cars in an open, flat area close to the performance and during the festivities a grass fire started, ignited by the hot muffler of
one car and quickly spread across the lot.
More than 300 cars were damaged or destroyed. Unless insurance settled the clams, this may
have been a costly festival for Arcosanti.
Some
funding is generated through the sale of metal and ceramic bells that are
designed, made and cast on site. A small
sales outlet and fabricating facility is also located in Scottsdale, at the
headquarters of the Cosanti foundation and closer to a larger potential
market. We purchased a ceramic bell at
the Arcosanti location. Later we
collected a bronze bell at the facility in Scottsdale. Their design is distinctive. They make a good souvenir while helping the community development.
These large shell shaped structures
were used as shop space to work on the bells.
I believe this one was where the ceramic bells were made. The supplies are stored along the back wall
in the white containers and the metal drying rack for the green ware is shown
there also.
The five story structure housing the visitor’ center, cafe gift shop and topped with a two bedroom “Sky Suite” available to overnight guests is the tallest point in the complex.
We had to leave for Prescott but vowed we would return when we had more time and possibly stay in that Sky Suite.
No comments:
Post a Comment