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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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.

Lecture by Paolo Soleri at the College of Architecture, Arizona State University, Part 1

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1977-04-12
DescriptionLecture and slide show commentary by Soleri, in which he discusses his architectural experiences, theories, and the development and implementation of his designs at Arcosanti. Soleri also answers questions from the audience.

Lecture by Paolo Soleri at the College of Architecture, Arizona State University, Part 2

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1977-04-12
DescriptionContinuation of lecture and slide show commentary by Soleri, in which he discusses his architectural experiences, theories, and the development and implementation of his designs at Arcosanti. Soleri also answers questions from the audience.

Stephen Hill interviews Paolo Soleri and Jack Blackwell

ContributorsKQED (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1977-03
DescriptionStephen Hill interviews Paolo Soleri and Jack Blackwell, director of educational programs at Arcosanti, on radio station KQED, San Francisco. Soleri discusses his architectural philosophies, methodologies, and experiences. Blackwell discusses his experiences working at Arcosanti for six seasons.

Mike Goodwin interviews Paolo Soleri

ContributorsKDKB (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
DescriptionMike Goodwin interviewing Paolo Soleri at Cosanti about his architectural theories and designs for a radio broadcast on KDKB, Phoenix.

Lecture and slide show by Paolo Soleri, Part 1

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1971-12-17
DescriptionLecture, slide presentation, and discussion at Neeb Hall, Arizona State University to AP 312 class. Soleri discusses his architectural theories and work at Cosanti and Arcosanti.

Lecture and slide show by Paolo Soleri, Part 2

ContributorsArizona State University (Contributor) / Soleri, Paolo, 1919-2013 (Contributor)
Created1971-12-17
DescriptionContinuation of lecture, slide presentation, and discussion at Neeb Hall, Arizona State University to AP 312 class. Soleri discusses his architectural theories and work at Cosanti and Arcosanti.

William E. Thompson, Mel Roman, and Harvey Cox speak at Arcosanti

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.

Lecture and slide show by Paolo Soleri

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.

Paolo Soleri: How I developed arcology, Part 1

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."