Paolo Soleri

A noted architect, urban planner, and artist, Paolo Soleri (1919-2013) was best known for Arcosanti, a planned community about 70 miles north of Phoenix.  A native of Turin, Italy, he earned a Ph.D. in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Turin in 1947 and apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West in Arizona and Taliesin in Wisconsin.  In 1965, Soleri established the educational non-profit Cosanti Foundation in the Scottsdale-Paradise Valley area north of Phoenix to develop his architectural and urban planning theories, in particular the concept of “arcology,” architecture coherent with ecology. 

Arcology as envisioned by Soleri included dense urban development designed to maximize human interaction and access to infrastructural services, conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and foster interaction with the surrounding natural environment.  Soleri was also a lecturer in the College of Architecture at Arizona State University, a National Design Award recipient, and the author of six books and numerous essays.

This collection originated in 1972 with a grant given to Professor Jeffrey Cook of the ASU College of Architecture to preserve materials about Paolo Soleri. It includes audiovisual materials, slides, photographs, ephemera, drawings, and newspaper clippings.  The audiovisual materials in the collection document construction and other activities at Arcosanti as well as in-depth discussion and analysis of Soleri’s architectural concepts and philosophy. The slides in the collection document buildings designed by Paolo Soleri and also include pictures of Paolo and Colly Soleri, activities and buildings at Cosanti and Arcosanti, and architectural models, drawings, and designs by Soleri.

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Panel discussions at Arcosanti, Part 1

ContributorsArcosanti (Contributor) / Thompson, William Irwin (Contributor)
DescriptionPanel discussion on environmental planning and art with William Irwin Thompson (social philosopher and poet) , Tal Stuart (sculptor), Peter Plagens (artist), Bill Wild (architect, industrial designer). Mel Roman, Robert Bruce, Dennis Schaub, Phyllis Yampolsky on a panel discussion called "Leisure, Man and Mediocrity."

Arcosanti Festival, conferences, Part 3

ContributorsArcosanti (Contributor) / Thompson, William Irwin (Contributor)
Created1978-10-05 to 1978-10-06
DescriptionPanel discussion on the relationship of theology and esthetics with William Irwin Thompson, Paolo Soleri, Henryk Skolimowski and others. Recording also includes a session with Thompson answering questions from the audience.

Arcosanti Festival, conferences, Part 4

ContributorsArcosanti (Contributor) / Thompson, William Irwin (Contributor)
Created1978-10-05 to 1978-10-06
Description
Conclusion of presentation by William Irwin Thompson. Panel discussion called "Excellence and Commitment," with Ronald Gourley (architect), Peter Blake (architect), Jeffrey Cook (professor, College of Architecture, Arizona State University), and Chris Robinson (sculptor). Presentation by Henryk Skolimowski (philosopher) on the role of culture in healing. Duplicates some of the material…

Conclusion of presentation by William Irwin Thompson. Panel discussion called "Excellence and Commitment," with Ronald Gourley (architect), Peter Blake (architect), Jeffrey Cook (professor, College of Architecture, Arizona State University), and Chris Robinson (sculptor). Presentation by Henryk Skolimowski (philosopher) on the role of culture in healing. Duplicates some of the material in Parts 2 and 3.

Paolo Soleri: The city energized by the sun

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
DescriptionPresentation and slide show by Paolo Soleri in the Education Lecture Hall at Arizona State University. The presentation consists of about 300 slides illustrating the development of the "Two Suns" concept being applied to the Arcosanti Arcology under construction near Cordes Junction, Arizona. Soleri is introduced by Stan Jones.

Jeffrey Cook interviews Paolo Soleri at Cosanti, Part 1

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1978-11-01
DescriptionFirst part of Jeffrey Cook (Professor of Architecture at Arizona State University) interviewing Paolo Soleri at Cosanti in Scottsdale, Arizona about Soleri's concepts on energy and environment.

Jeffrey Cook interviews Paolo Soleri at Cosanti, Part 2

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1978-11-01
DescriptionSecond part of Jeffrey Cook (Professor of Architecture at Arizona State University) interviewing Paolo Soleri at Cosanti in Scottsdale, Arizona about Soleri's concepts on energy and environment.

Jeffrey Cook interviews Paolo Soleri, Part 3

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1974-06-27
DescriptionThird part of Jeffrey Cook (Professor of Architecture at Arizona State University) interviewing Paolo Soleri at the College of Architecture, Arizona State University, about Soleri's architectural philosophy and experiences. Soleri also answers questions from others.

Jeffrey Cook interviews Paolo Soleri, Part 4

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1974-06-27
DescriptionFourth part of Jeffrey Cook (Professor of Architecture at Arizona State University) interviewing Paolo Soleri at the College of Architecture, Arizona State University, about Soleri's architectural philosophy and experiences. Soleri also answers questions from others.

Paolo Soleri talks with graduate students

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1977-04-12
DescriptionPaolo Soleri discussing his architectural theories and experiences with graduate students at the College of Architecture, Arizona State University.

Paolo Soleri talks with graduate students, Part 1

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1977-04-12
DescriptionPaolo Soleri discussing his architectural theories and experiences with graduate students at the College of Architecture, Arizona State University.