Cosanti facts for kids
Cosanti is a special place in Paradise Valley, Arizona, USA. It was the home and workshop of a famous Italian-American architect named Paolo Soleri. He lived there until he passed away in 2013. Today, Cosanti is open for everyone to visit.
This unique place features beautiful terraced gardens. It also has buildings made from concrete using a special "earth-forming" method. You can also see and hear many artistic wind-bells there.
Paolo Soleri and his wife, Colly, moved to this five-acre site in 1956. It's not far from Taliesin West, where Soleri had studied architecture years before. The name "Cosanti" comes from Italian words meaning "object" and "before." It reminds us that "There are things more important than objects."
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What is Arcology?
In 1970, Paolo Soleri created a new word: "arcology." This word combines "architecture" and "ecology." It means designing cities that are good for both people and the environment. Soleri wanted to build places where people could live close together. This would save land and energy.
Cosanti's Role in Arcology
Cosanti was the first place where Soleri started to explore his ideas about arcology. Even though the full concept came later, many of the building methods and ideas used at Cosanti were early steps toward arcology.
Later, Soleri started building a larger "urban laboratory" called Arcosanti. This bigger project is about 70 miles north of Cosanti. As Arcosanti grew, Cosanti became the main office for Soleri's foundation.
Buildings and Design at Cosanti
Cosanti has many interesting buildings. These include the first "Earth House," a place where students lived, and outdoor workshops. There's also a performance area, a swimming pool, and a gift shop. All these structures are connected by lovely courtyards, terraces, and garden paths.
Keeping Cool and Warm
Many of the buildings at Cosanti are partly underground. They are surrounded by mounds of earth. This helps to keep the inside temperatures comfortable all year round. The earth acts like a natural insulator, keeping the buildings cool in summer and warm in winter.
Soleri also designed special curved walls called "apses." These walls face south. In winter, they catch the low sun's light and warmth. In summer, when the sun is higher, they create shade. This smart design helps save energy. The swimming pool and other areas also face south to get the most warmth from the winter sun.
How the Buildings Were Made
Most of the buildings at Cosanti were built using a unique method called "earthcasting." First, workers would create mounds of tightly packed earth. Then, they would pour concrete over these earth mounds. Once the concrete became solid, the earth underneath was carefully dug out. This left behind the unique shapes of the buildings.
This special earthcasting method is also used to make the beautiful bronze and ceramic wind-bells. These bells are crafted at Cosanti and Arcosanti during weekday mornings.
See also
In Spanish: Cosanti para niños
