Arcology is the fusion of architecture with ecology, a comprehensive urban perspective. As organisms evolve, they increase in complexity and become a more compact system. A city should similarly evolve, functioning as a living system. Architecture and ecology are integral processes capable of demonstrating positive responses to the many problems of urban civilization – population growth, pollution, energy/natural resource depletion, food scarcity, and quality of life. Arcology recognizes the need to radically reorganise the sprawling urban landscape into dense, integrated, three-dimensional cities to support the diversified activities that sustain human culture and environmental balance. Smart , Resilient and Sustainable cities may be a step forward in this direction. Arcology, in future will be a vital component of City Planning.
It is a field of creating architectural design principles for very densely populated and ecologically low-impact human habitats.
The term was coined in 1969 by architect Paolo Soleri, who believed that a completed arcology would provide space for various residential, commercial, and agricultural facilities while minimizing individual human environmental impact. These structures have been largely hypothetical, as no large-scale arcology has yet been built.
Link(s) and Source(s):
Rashid's Blog: Portal for Inquisitive Learners 