Arcology as a Framework for Integrated Urban Systems

Reframing Urban Form, Infrastructure, and Governance

Rapid urbanization is intensifying pressures on land, infrastructure, and governance systems worldwide. While contemporary planning approaches address these challenges through incremental and sectoral interventions, they often fail to resolve underlying structural fragmentation. This paper reframes arcology—originally proposed by Paolo Soleri—as a systems-integration framework for modern cities. Using a conceptual-comparative methodology, the study evaluates arcology across five dimensions: spatial organization, infrastructure systems, mobility, governance, and socio-economic integration. Drawing on urban systems theory, planning theory, and sustainable urbanism, the paper argues that arcology offers a coherent model for integrated urban development. The findings suggest that while full implementation remains constrained, arcological principles can inform planning practice through coordinated infrastructure, compact urban form, and governance integration. The paper concludes with policy implications for zoning reform, infrastructure coordination, and equitable urban development.