Arcosanti: An American Community Looking Toward the Millennium

Arcosanti, if it is ever finished, might offer a viable alternative to the appallingly inefficient urban sprawl; unfortunately, its physical vitality appears fragile because of apparent negligence and nature's deleterious effects upon the structures.Not only do Arcosanti's chances for survival diminish because of a chronic lack of funding, the spirit of Arcosanti cannot thrive amid serious threats to its principal goal.At some point, keeping construction projects alive with minor renovations should not supercede a major assault on the mesa and the construction of the actual city.As a former staff member and workshop participant, no longer on the inside of the project, I can only evaluate the perceived tensions and problems with partial first-hand knowledge.My periodic visits provide glimpses of what appear to be inattention to essentials and a misdirected energy.This personal view of Arcosanti evaluates its current activities, hoping to bring a greater awareness of its physical and spiritual state to its admirers, detractors, and curious visitors.A perspective on Arcosanti's Utopian context and communal activities may help to understand how Arcosanti's purpose has been modified.Soleri's ideas originate with countless literary and historical Utopias.Arcosanti can be compared to Plato's Republic, Augustine's City of God, and More's Utopia.These ideal communities still inspire those in search of the best of all possible worlds.Urban critic Lewis Mumford claimed that "the concept of Utopia is a city itself." 2 Soleri's knowledge of dozens of ancient and relatively modern literary Utopias places him within a long tradition of anti-suburbanism.In spite of his public denunciations of other Utopian communities, Arcosanti is a product of Utopian models in history and literature.3 2. Lewis Mumford, "Utopia, the City and the Machine," Daedulus, 94 (Spring 1965), 271. 3. The abbreviated index of Utopian books is confirmed reading by Soleri.In 1970, I presented him with a chronological catalog of selected Utopias.We discussed their relevance; this partial list contains titles he recalled; only a few were vague recollections, and they are identified by asterisks.A complete listing is in the Appendix of my M.