Arcosanti Kilted

[James MacMillan]

Ron, Like you I made two visits there - My first and my last...... wierd people, strange project, dubious goals.

[ChromeScholar]

Not really. What it boils down to, is Arcosanti doesn't come anywhere close to legal, code-wise. If the county ever decided to make them bring it up to code, they'd have to close the place down.

[Mr. MacDougall]

I understand your point. My point is that I'm surprised at how negative so many people are about the place. I enjoyed it, and the ideas which underlie its construction stimulate my imagination. I had a great time on my tour, and bought Mr. Solieri's book, The City in the Image of Man, which has given me many hours of pleasant contemplation.

All I'm saying is, I'm surprised at the strength of the negative reaction several people have expressed, and my experience of the place was different.

[Galician]

I wonder if the difference between McDougall's experience and that of the others might not be the expectations. Ron was expecting a decent play to stay. McD saw it for the place of vision it was/is(?). (Btw, Mr. McDougall, did you stay there during your visit?)

I met Paolo Solieri at a conference decades ago, and we had a small debate over his vision. I felt that the place was premised on the unsustainability of city life, which did not sit well with me at the time. Interesting to see how it's endured over twenty-five years later. Sorry to hear that it sounds like it's being kept going by a such a closed circle. But that is how movements are kept going, many times.

[Riverkilt]

"expectations"

Hey Galician, you sound like another friend of Bill...?

I did go with positive expectations, even some guilt at not seeing the place many many years ago. I went to have fun and celebrate a good friend's birthday and enjoy the venue.

But I did "expect" a well traveled dirt road to be graded occasionally. I did 'expect' a sign to direct me to the office. I did "expect" the room to be made up when checked in well after check in time began. And, I did "expect" the plumbing to be operational with TP nearby.

I know I "expected' to be swept away by it all, but I found it quite 'worn' and perhaps more basic than I "expected."

Ironic that the vacant desert the project began on is now pressed by retirement communities in Cordes Lakes and Cordes Junction and there's a McDonald's and a Subway at the turn off to the dirt road. Suburban sprawl will soon envelope Arcosanti.

Still, I'm guessing I felt a tad out of place kilted up...maybe a George Jetson metalic space suit with bubble helmet...or desert hermit/hippie garb.

And, I didn't get the tour...we wanted to, but got all caught up in getting the room taken care of. Maybe if I'd had the tour and heard more of the reason and the vision...

Ron

[Galician]

Ron, You described what I said that you were "expecting," a decent place to stay, based on your experiences with hotels and motels.

[Riverkilt]

For sure! Did years of hiking and dry camping on the Sonoran Desert myself.

We knew going in that the accomodations are minimal. Website says that, even had pics. But no TP is a tad too minimal...

I think what is important is that we both rolled with the situation...didn't get upset, just did what we had to do to get things resolved, when possible, and enjoyed the fellowship and friendship - the reason we came there.

And MacDougall, when I was wandering around looking at all the "stuff" I kept saying I felt like I was on another planet...meant it as a compliment. Having worked as an underground miner I still wonder why there's not more underground housing in the desert. The Native peoples dug their homes down just a couple feet and they are noticeably cooler...why not all the way under, hillside/cliffside homes?

There's a new market - a "dirt kilt" for wearing in your underground home.

Ron

[Retro Red]

Ironic that the vacant desert the project began on is now pressed by retirement communities in Cordes Lakes and Cordes Junction and there's a McDonald's and a Subway at the turn off to the dirt road. Suburban sprawl will soon envelope Arcosanti.

Ironic, indeed, since the vision of Arcosanti was to prevent the kind of urban sprawl that is currently destroying the most beautiful desert in the world at the rate of an acre a minute.

Sounds like you made the best of a difficult situation, Ron. The kilt & Argyle jacket do make a great outfit.
.

[Riverkilt]

Well MacDougall,

If you like architecture (me too) sometime take a drive around the canyon and up to Colorado City, AZ/Hilldale, UT. The folks there build up, the build out flat, they build compounds, there are all sorts of amazing architectural designs and choices of building materials to be seen in a town(s) of 12,000. I once thought the place would make an amazing doctoral thesis for an architecture student...then a few years ago stumbled on the fact that someone actually had done one for ASU or U of A...don't recall.

Kilting in the area if FUN...I think a treat for the locals since they're so used to getting stared at themselves...gives them someone to stare at for a change.

Ron

[Mr. MacDougall]

I felt that the place was premised on the unsustainability of city life, which did not sit well with me at the time.

I think we're moving closer to Solieri's vision of Arcology, though perhaps not in the sense in which he envisioned it. Rather than purpose-built hyperstructures, we're starting to see dense population areas become extended arcologies. If people like the Vertical Farm folks get their way, we'll see a future in which even food is produced within the city.

As a believer in the future of humanity in space, I can't help but find that exciting.