The Unique Arizona Town That Looks Straight Out Of Star Wars

The brainchild of Italian architect Paolo Soleri, Arcosanti is an experimental desert town was one of the first examples of a new form of architecture and urban planning called arcology. A portmanteau of both architecture and ecology, Soleri’s ideas for arcology focused on designing cities that would have a low impact on the environment while still functioning as a city with modern amenities and the ability to sustain them. The entire town was designed to be about to house and sustain life for 5,000 people on just 25 acres of land; in typical land use, this would take up an estimated 500 acres.

Perhaps the best way to describe Arcosanti is that it feels very earthy yet otherworldly. The overall design of the buildings and town layout is organic with curves and slopes that are a stark contrast to the grid layout we’re used to seeing. The buildings are made of concrete that blends with the surrounding landscape in soft shades of beige and covered in earth-toned decorations in a designs unique to Arcosanti.

Due to funding, the town is only partially finished houses fewer than 100 people. That, however, hasn’t deterred several generations of architects and urban planners from flocking to the town for internships or inspiration.

As a Star Wars fan, the architecture reminds me of what you may find on Tatooine or even Jakku, though far less dusty. Although there doesn’t seem to be any direct references to Arcosanti, the town’s influence on the saga would make sense as ground first broke in 1970, a whole seven years before the first film was released. What are some other planets or cities in science fiction these buildings seem reminiscent of?

Appearing rustic with muted earth tones and definitely handmade, these hand-casted bronze items are a unique find at Arcosanti. During a visit here, you will not only find them being made on-site but also hanging from trees and buildings.