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 an important historical site that anyone can visit.
The place is known for its unique design. It has gardens built on different levels, buildings made in a special way using earth and concrete, and beautiful artistic wind-bells.
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A Special Home and Workshop
Paolo Soleri and his wife, Colly, made Cosanti their home in 1956. It's a five-acre property, not far from Taliesin West. Soleri had studied architecture there with another famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, ten years earlier. Cosanti is located near the edge of Scottsdale, surrounded by a nice neighborhood.
The name "Cosanti" comes from two Italian words. It means "things that are more important than objects." This name shows Soleri's belief that ideas and values are more important than just physical things.
From Cosanti to Arcosanti
By 1970, Soleri needed more space for his ideas and projects. He had created a new word, "arcology." This word combines "architecture" (how we design buildings) and "ecology" (how living things interact with their environment).
Soleri then combined "arcology" with "Cosanti" to create Arcosanti. This was a new "urban laboratory" or experimental city. It was built in the desert about seventy miles north of Cosanti. Arcosanti became very famous, and many students and new projects moved there. Cosanti then became the main office for Soleri's foundation.
Unique Buildings and Designs
Cosanti has many interesting buildings. These include the first "Earth House," a place where students lived, outdoor workshops, and a space for performances. There's also a swimming pool, a gift shop, and Soleri's former home. All these buildings are connected by courtyards, terraces, and garden paths.
Many of the buildings are partly underground. They are surrounded by mounds of earth. This helps to keep the inside cool in summer and warm in winter. It's like natural insulation!
Soleri also designed special curved walls called apses. These walls face south. In winter, they capture the low sun's light and warmth. In summer, when the sun is higher, they create shade and keep the buildings cool. The swimming pool and other areas also face south to get the most warmth from the winter sun.
Earthcasting and Wind-bells
Even though Cosanti was built before the idea of arcology became well-known, many of its principles were first tried out here. Most of the buildings were made using a special technique called "earthcasting."
Here's how it works:
- First, mounds of tightly packed earth are shaped.
- Then, concrete is poured over these earth mounds.
- Once the concrete becomes solid, the earth underneath is dug out. This leaves behind unique concrete structures.
A similar earthcasting method is used to make the beautiful bronze and ceramic wind-bells. These bells are created at Cosanti and Arcosanti during weekday mornings.
See also
In Spanish: Cosanti para niños
