WHAT IS IT?
The BASILICAS, articulated in two wings, contain large atriums,
galleries, archives, cyberspace studios and storage.

Click any image for a larger view

Plan View

South Elevation and Sections

Perspective

Solar Diagram

CRESCENT ROOMS for different sizes of operational activities will be integrated into the APSE structure around the AMPHITHEATER that has a seating capacity of 700.

WHAT DOES IT DO?
It becomes a documentation and presentation space for 40 years of Paolo Soleri’s work that went in search of an alternative to suburbia and exurbia: the URBAN EFFECT of the city and as direct consequence of the salvation of the biosphere.

ARCOSANTI MEDIA LAB, is a primary candidate to occupy this building and could be engaged in generating a new perception of reality and intellection, perhaps moving away from life as we are and as we know it.

WHAT ARE THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES?
The AMPHITHEATER is an “extroverted” structure that takes advantage of the passive solar features. The SOUTH FACING APSE provides the sun penetration deep into the seating areas in winter and provides shade in summer.

The BASILICAS are “introverted” structures. The southern facade is made of one quarter horizontal cylinder working as a TROMB WALL, another passive solar feature to keep the infrared radiation inside the curved wall. SUNLIGHT reaches the interior of the basilica via reflective surfaces. A narrow slot in the vault allows a thin slice of sunlight to enter the structure directly at designated times to produce a dramatic effect.

One of the decorative features inside of the one quarter vault in each basilica is the MODULAR CONCRETE PANELS made by
participants. The panel could carry a message in a TIME CAPSULE, which on specific occasions can be opened. The building thus “speaks back” to its users.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUILD IT?
The entire complex has about 100,000 square feet of floor areas. The current estimate is $10 million dollars.