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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ContributorsSoleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1973-10-22
DescriptionWilliam E. Thompson (cultural historian), Harvey Cox (theologian), and Mel Roman (psychiatrist), disuss their personal experiences and trends in their fields and relate them to the ideas of Paolo Soleri as reflected at Arcosanti. Paolo Soleri introduces the three speakers.
ContributorsSoleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1972-05-09
DescriptionLecture and slide show by Paolo Soleri, in which he discusses his architectural experiences and work at Cosanti and Arcosanti.
ContributorsCosanti (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1974-07-19
DescriptionLecture and slide show commentary by Paolo Soleri, recorded at Cosanti, in which Soleri discusses the development of his concepts and theories of "two suns arcology."
ContributorsCosanti (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1974-07-19
DescriptionContinuation of lecture and slide show commentary by Paolo Soleri, recorded at Cosanti, in which Soleri discusses the development of his concepts and theories of "two suns arcology."
ContributorsSoleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
DescriptionUnidentified speaker discussing aviation architecture and planning, followed by a slide presentation by Paolo Soleri on the same topic. Ian McHarg also briefly discusses the same topic.
ContributorsKDKB (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1971-10-12
DescriptionWilliam Edward Compton interviews Paolo Soleri on the program Forum on radio station KDKB, Phoenix. Soleri discusses his life experiences and the development of his architectural and urban planning theories, concepts and designs.
ContributorsArcosanti (Contributor) / Roman, Mel (Contributor)
DescriptionContinuation of panel discussion called "Leisure, Man and Mediocrity" with Mel Roman, Robert Bruce, Dennis Schaub, and Phyllis Yampolsky. Panel discussion on art and celebrations with Howard Woody, Phyllis Yampolsky and two others. Panel discussion on art criticism with Peter Plagens, David Burge, Bill Bolcom, and others.
ContributorsArcosanti (Contributor) / Roman, Mel (Contributor)
Created1977-10-01 to 1977-10-02
Description

Dr. Leonard Duhl (psychiatrist, professor of public health at University of California, Berkeley) speaks on balanced healthcare and holistic approaches to medicine. Sister Mary Rose Christy (executive director of the American Indian Centers) speaks on the topic of national health insurance. Andrew Weil (Harvard University) speaks on herbal healing. William

Dr. Leonard Duhl (psychiatrist, professor of public health at University of California, Berkeley) speaks on balanced healthcare and holistic approaches to medicine. Sister Mary Rose Christy (executive director of the American Indian Centers) speaks on the topic of national health insurance. Andrew Weil (Harvard University) speaks on herbal healing. William McGarey (physician and Director of the Cayce Foundation) and Gladys McGarey (physician, co-founder of the ARE program) speak on birthing, re-birthing, and health consciousness.

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.
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.