Monuments of architecture and creators of the transcendence. Paolo Soleri (part 2)

(Images from archaic-mag.com)

Paolo Soleri's dream Utopia “Arcosanti” which still stands as a testament to his vision 50 years ago, should be viewed in the idealistic concept that it was decreed by Soleri.  At times, whether one could denote this as an arrogance of readily available information, as we tend to have a short memory and take for granted events that in context, such as the sincerity that Soleri and his co-workers and fellow designers believed in, was to create a Utopian city within the Arizonian desert.  A self sufficient enclosure, yet open to the elements, it portrays the belief that idealistic architects have; to which both nature and the human construct, cohabit with each other in a harmonious and productive way.  That our structures should blend, conjoin and assist as an encompassing foundation.  Not as a blunt force, imprinted onto the natural world.  And there is a reason for this, which is simple in its assertion. That the natural world provides the resources for humans to live, be that shelter and food to survive.  The overuse of finite materials and the byproducts which is pollution and its impact on nature, but the overall detriment of waste and the depleting of resources, is the beginning of initiating, what many believe, will be the destruction of the human race.  It is rightfully a concern.  In our present time and the relevancy of ecology movements 50 years ago, particularly of the current urgency of climate change as a dire predicament and the erosion of natural environments.  All are a significant problem for expansive cities - our world is becoming dryer and more arid.  This of course will put pressure on food production.  However, these significant events are not a new phenomenon. The 1970s and if we look at Soleri's wisdom when he began developing this city in the desert, it was in reflection of two very important events of that era.  One, being the oil shock of the early 70's, which essentially was the beginning of the end of cheap oil, as energy prices spiked dramatically.  The second event, was the collapse of global food harvests in 72' and 74'.  It is the scourge of inflation atop of the fears that global crops could fail and oil prices will continue to spike, that became  the stalwart motivation to set up and maintain what Soleri called a “Archolgy” as a enriched foundation.  A Utopian concept.  Which he attempted to maintain. 

Yet, in all of its wisdom and idealistic concepts, Soleri's “Arcosanti” failed over time.  With its desired intention of at attracting 5000 residents, over the many decades, the number fluctuated to no more that 50.  Struggling to fund and attain continued support, Arcosanti faltered in its grand concept, only able to structurally develop a small percentage of the attended building framework.  There is an underlying flaw, despite the sincerity, of trying to maintain a city dynamic in its simplicity of a Utopian dream – which transcends away from the practical.  This is not a criticism of the idea, rather the social, political and environment aspects have and will continue to impact on cities; which in turn will mold the temperament.  And I feel also there is an uncertainty about the idealism of a Utopian city and its theory of giving back to its citizens via the benefits of reliable shelter and food, whilst maintaining an ecological basis – which modern cities, from the Middle East, through to the main cities of the West are attempting to achieve.  Solar, geothermal heat, electrical cars, green and sustainable areas.  Self contained and automated skyscrapers, recycled waste, all purposely lessening the impact on natural resources.  Soleri's concept of a greener city in its self contained network of sharing responsibilities and the reducing the finite resources of energy and food has, in my opinion, a dark side.  A Dystopia edge, that ironically will be influenced form the Utopian idealism of the communal work and skill sharing template, as our cities grow and the pressure to maintain the costs of living in these ecological metropolises rise, jobs become automated and redundant.  We may all be working within that forced purpose but not as shared communal responsibility, although that maybe sold as the reason, but simply to maintain ones shelter within this type of city of the future.