(Photos: Arcosanti)Achieving Practice Credits an Alternative Way
Toa Rivera, a Segment I student in her third semester at the BAC, fueled her interest in alternative design at Arcosanti, a project that presents an alternative to urban sprawl. It was founded by renowned Italian architect Paolo Soleri. "I came across information about Arcosanti in research for my Design Principles class," says Toa, who is originally from Italy. "I was excited to find out that I could be a part of the design and building there."
Toa fulfilled some of her practice requirement for the BAC at Arcosanti. She felt that while an office environment does offer opportunities, she wanted a hands-on experience in construction. And that's what she got.
Toa spent three months at the Arizona site, taking a workshop. During her time there, she helped build the handicap access ramp and the begining of "la logia". She learned Soleri's theory of arcology, a concept of architecture and ecology in which they work as one integral process to produce new urban habitats. "Soleri's theory is based on minimizing and re-thinking not just how our cities are built but also how we live," says Toa. "Most advanced cities today lack a sense of nature and are dependent for the most part on other resources for food. Soleri's linear cities take into consideration our technology, and they also value the landscape."
(Photo: the handicap access ramp)For more information, visit Arcosanti online.
