In the Arizona desert, half way between Flagstaff and Phoenix, the Italian architect Paolo Soleri has begun the Arcosanti project. The idea is to create an ultra-compact, ecological city that is the antithesis of the typical American suburban sprawl. The desert location has been inspired by Soleri's time at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in nearby Scottsdale, AZ.

The photo shows a model of the project. The darker gray structures in the foreground are what is currently built. The larger white structures are the dream of a city for 5000 inhabitants.