Arcosanti, Experimental town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Arcosanti is an experimental community project in Mayer, Arizona, working on compact living forms since the 1970s. The structures rise as multi-story concrete forms from the desert floor, uniting living, working, and communal spaces under shared roofs.
The Italian architect began work at this site in 1970, developing an urban concept linking buildings and environment in dense forms. The first construction phases were built in communal work with visitors who helped in exchange for lodging and instruction.
The name combines "architecture" with "things" in Italian, echoing Soleri's term arcology, a portmanteau of architecture and ecology. Bronze bells cast on site, in sand molds, fund the project; the foundry occupies a semi-dome apse. Ceramic bell production, long part of the craft output, ended in 2025.
A visit works best during cooler morning or evening hours, as midday desert sun can be intense. Most areas are reachable on foot, with sturdy shoes recommended for uneven paths.
Many rooms have no right angles and instead follow rounded or sloping lines that recall natural caves. The large concrete surfaces are often punctured by circular openings that guide shadow and light into unusual patterns.
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