Everybody dreams about a better life. Some people have more selfish visions, such as fame and fortune and all that crap, but others take a more social, global approach.
The thing about dreams though, is that most of the time they don't become reality. People may dream of world peace or something similar, but in the end they really don't do anything to make it come true. (Aside from maybe blowing out a birthday candle or keeping an eye out for falling stars.) But there is at least one man, Paolo Soleri, who is using his experience and expertise to make the world a better place, and he's doing through his ongoing project, Arcosanti.
Many people don't know what this place is, and many that do know tend to think it's a lost cause. Arcosanti is a commune in progress: Soleri, along with his workshoppers, have been pushing to teach and expand Arcosanti for the past 30 or so years. While it has come a long way and now attracts thousands of students, it is not close to Soleri's original dream of a self-sustaining community that cuts back on waste and lacks a system based on urban sprawl.
But the Soleri's vision does not need to be completed in order to fulfill his dream. Architecture students from around the country flock to Arcosanti to expand their educations. These students are the future of America, and they are following in Soleri's footsteps. Just because he wasn't able to complete this project doesn't mean his vision (or at least bits and pieces of it) can't be completed by others. Maybe down the line, we will be able to see cities remodeled or built to cater to a pedestrian-friendly community - and we will have Soleri to thank for it....(Many people with such vision aren't recognized for their talent until they're gone anyway, right?)
All I know is that a place where I could rely on my own surroundings to survive would be a place I'd want to live. Call me a hippie if you want, but not having to depend on a vehicle and being able to know that everything I need is close by are two things that not only make sense, but also seem like they would make my life a whole lot easier. Imagine being able to walk down the street and pick your own food, go to school or meet with your community. It all sounds pretty good to me.
So hopefully these students keep Soleri in mind when they go off and fulfill their dreams of fame and fortune. Then maybe, indirectly, they can fulfill Soleri's dream as well.
Reach the editor at emily.murphy@asu.edu.
