Arcosanti
Arcosanti is a planned community in Arizona, most notable for its crafts. The project has the goals of combining the social interaction and accessibility of an urban environment with sound environmental principles, such as minimal resource use and access to the natural environment.
Understand
Arcosanti is a planned community, built in the style of arcology, combining modern architecture with ecology.
In 1970, construction began on the site and continued until 1989. The population has tended to vary between 50 and 150 people, many of them students and volunteers. The goal was for Arcosanti to house a population of 5,000 people. Thirteen major structures were built on the site, some several stories tall.
Existing structures at Arcosanti are meant to begin to provide for the complete needs of a community. They include: a five-story visitors' center, cafe and gift shop; a bronze-casting apse; a ceramics apse; two large barrel vaults; a ring of apartment residences and quasi-public spaces around an outdoor amphitheater; a community swimming pool; an office complex. A two-bedroom "Sky Suite" occupies the highest point in the complex; it, as well as a set of rooms below the pool, is available for overnight guests. Most of the buildings have accessible roofs.
Arcosanti has a Camp area, built by and for the original construction crew. It is used today as housing for approximately one quarter of the Arcosanti population.
The Cosanti Foundation runs Arcosanti and manages its activities.
Get in
The community is near Spring Valley and Cordes Lakes, both of which are on the Arizona Veterans' Highway.
It lies 70 mi (110 km) north of Phoenix.
Get around
The town has few paved roads. Walking is the best way to get around.
See
- The oasis surrounding Arcosanti is stunningly beautiful for such a remote location in the Arizona desert.
- The FORM Ampitheatre hosts live shows. It's built in a combined brutalist-modern style.
- Tour. Daily by reservation at 10AM, 11AM, noon, 1PM. A 1– to 1½-hour tour. Adult $20, student $12, children 12 and under free.
Do
- Art workshops are available by reservation.
- There is a large swimming pool, though it's probably not open to just anyone.
Buy
Arts and crafts are the main thing to buy in Arcosanti, mostly bells.
Eat and drink
Although there is a nice cafeteria in Arcosanti, the nearby towns of Cordes Lakes and Spring Valley are better bets when it comes to food and drink.
Sleep
Accommodations are readily available in Arcosanti, so long as the condos aren't too full of undergrad students.
A 5-day Experience Week allows you to live in the community while participating in workshops $900 per person in 2021).