Arcosanti or City Of The Bells (or "the City of the Future") is an experimental town that is being built in central Arizona, 70 miles outside of Phoenix. Paolo Soleri, using a concept he calls Arcology— architecture + ecology, designed the town to demonstrate ways urban conditions could be improved while minimizing the destructive impact on the earth.
Arcosanti is being built on only 25 acres of a 4060 acre land preserve, keeping its inhabitants near the natural countryside. The Arcosanti web site describes how Arcology functions in Arcosanti: "The built and the living interact as organs would in a highly evolved being. Many systems work together, with efficient circulation of people and resources, multi-use buildings, and solar orientation for lighting, heating and cooling."
In Arcosanti, apartments, businesses, production, technology, open space, studios, and educational and cultural events are all accessible, while privacy is paramount in the overall design. Solar Greenhouses (yet to be buit) provide gardening space for public and private use, and act as solar collectors for winter heat.
The city serves as an educational complex where workshops and classes are offered. Students from around the world are constructing Arcosanti. In addition about 50,000 tourists visit Arcosanti each year.
Funds to build Arcosanti are raised through the sale of art objects, the most famous being cast windbells. These windchimes have given Arcosanti its local nickname, City of the Bells. More funds are raised from Workshop tuitions, which people ("Workshoppers") pay for a five week hands-on experience. Thee Workshops are the principal means by which Arcosanti is constructed.
