From the road, it looks like a habitat on Mars. Upon closer inspection, the ultramodern structures are part of an urban experiment, an experiment in arcology, the blending of architecture with ecology.

My curiosity got the best of me, and I drove up the driveway to be greeted by a sign that read, "Welcome to Arcosanti An Urban Laboratory?"

Not knowing what to expect, I continued along the concrete pathway, following an orange railing to the main building. A series of patina-covered windchimes led the way. I entered the stark but inviting foyer. Inside, the sun greeted me through round porthole windows casting interesting shadows on the walls and floor. More of the bells hung against the wall as I made my way to the central hall.

The Italian architect Paolo Soleri envisioned an experimental community of tomorrow where humans can live in an urban environment without upsetting the ecology.

This concept of arcology, coined by Soleri, is increasingly important today, as the planet faces cumulative stresses from human habitation. This is most evident in climate change and the severe weather events being experienced worldwide.

His dream was to build a city that could sustain itself while minimizing its impact on earth's resources. This dream to build a working arcology has not yet been accomplished. Soleri died in April 2013, and his students and followers carry on his life-long work.

Soleri started the desert town, located about an hour's drive north of Phoenix, in 1970.

You can stay in one of the guest rooms on-site and even make reservations for three suites by reserving a suite on Airbnb. The suites are central to the Urban Laboratory, giving you the opportunity to intimately experience Arcosanti.

https://www.arcosanti.org/stay/

The reason for all the windchimes and bells hanging throughout the exhibit becomes apparent as Arcosanti depends on the sales of those bells made and cast from clay and bronze on site.

Useful links

https://www.arcosanti.org/stay/