Our current assignment relates to periods and culture in architecture. This subject reminded me of photos taken twenty years ago when I visited an innovative cultural community for the purpose of being environmentally responsible. The unique experimental city is called Arcosanti. Construction on the Arcosanti Project was started in 1970 and is an ongoing process. It is designed on the concept of Arcology (architecture + ecology), meaning that the building and humans interact as organs in a highly evolved being. This unique twentieth century cultural system works together, with efficient circulation of people and resources, multi-use buildings, and solar powered lighting, heating, and cooling. "Arcosanti Project - 1987: Construction site" Photo by Gwendolyn Lane. (1987).
Arcosanti is an example of responsible environmental preservation in today's culture as seen in one of the completed residential units (the top photo) taken in 2001 compared to the same building under construction in 1987 [see the mesa at the right in both photos]. (Arcosanti: Completed Building - 2001. Photo image: Courtesy of www.arcosanti.org/ (2007).
