Arcology...Paolo Soleri.

Arcology

In nature, as an organism evolves it increases in complexity and it also becomes a more compact or miniaturized system. Similarly a city should function as a living system. Arcology, architecture and ecology as one integral process, is capable of demonstrating positive response to the many problems of urban civilization, population, pollution, energy and natural resource depletion, food scarcity and quality of life. Arcology recognizes the necessity of the radical reorganization of the sprawling urban landscape into dense, integrated, three-dimensional cities in order to support the complex activities that sustain human culture. The city is the necessary instrument for the evolution of humankind." - Paolo Soleri

The generational Arcology development.

The First Generation Arcology (1° GA)

Hexahedron Arcology Model : photo : Ivan Pintar

This is the theoretical definition of a "radical" urban system, rooted in the historical evolution of habitat. It is the view of habitat as a cluster of social, economic, cultural activities and of the kind of life it encourages. The notion of crowding is seen as a sine qua non condition for the inception of the Urban Effect. Thus crowding, far from being a necessary evil, is the imperative any form of life is blessed with because once crowding subsides, the system dies. With it the organism or the association of organisms (the city for instance) breaks down, as parts scatter away (suburbia) returning to the uncrowded surrounding expectant of a novel "crowding together" into the next organism.

The Second Generation Arcology (2° GA)

Two Suns Arcology Concept Model : photo : Ivan Pintar

This phase can be literally described as a splitting of the architectural concepts of the First Generation Arcologies in half, exposing the core to the sun. This gives a greater voice to the renewable energy of the sun and inserts arcology even more effectively into its own ecological niche. It also makes clear the name of arcology as architecture-ecology.
Arcosanti originally outlined in the mode of the 1° G.A. was subsequently redesigned in the mode of the 2° G.A. The Two Suns Arcology designs represent the majority of work stemming from the second generation concepts.and inserts arcology even more effectively into its own ecological niche. It also makes clear the name of arcology as architecture-ecology.
Arcosanti originally outlined in the mode of the 1° G.A. was subsequently redesigned in the mode of the 2° G.A. The Two Suns Arcology designs represent the majority of work stemming from the second generation concepts.

The Third Generation Arcology (3° GA)

Third Generation Arcology Modular Toy Blocks : Photo : Tomiaki Tamura

The Third Generation Arcology is an attempt at "packaging" so to speak, the Second Generation Arcology. Modular and possibly standardized structures would be articulated in a variety of arrangements and sizes so as to fit specific conditions (the environment, the climate, the culture, the technological conditions, the size of the community, etc.).

The Fourth Generation Arcology (4° GA)

Space For Peace 'Ovum' Model : Photo : Tomiaki Tamura

The Fourth Generation Arcology is the 3° G.A. of land and oceans "taking off for outer space", in as much as the packaging of the 3°G.A. is an anticipation with its many facets and consequences, of the mandatory packaging of the 4° G.A. The 4° GA is represented by writings, graphics and models.

ARCOSANTI