Paolo Soleri facts for kids

Paolo Soleri (born June 21, 1919 – died April 9, 2013) was an Italian architect. He created the Cosanti Foundation and Arcosanti, which are educational places. Soleri taught at Arizona State University and won a National Design Award in 2006. He came up with the idea of 'arcology'. This word combines "architecture" and "ecology" to describe a way of building cities that works with nature. He passed away at home when he was 93 years old.

Soleri wrote several books. Some of his famous books include The Bridge Between Matter & Spirit is Matter Becoming Spirit and Arcology - City In the Image of Man.

Paolo Soleri's Early Life and Work

Paolo Soleri was born in Turin, Italy. He earned his master's degree in architecture from the Politecnico di Torino in 1946. In December 1946, he traveled to the United States. He spent about a year and a half working with the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He worked at Wright's studios in Arizona and Wisconsin. During this time, Soleri designed a bridge that was shown at the Museum of Modern Art. This helped him become known around the world.

In 1950, Soleri and his wife, Colly, went back to Italy. There, he was asked to build a large ceramics factory. This factory was called Ceramica Artistica Solimene. It was located in Vietri on the beautiful Amalfi coast.

How Soleri Used Ceramics in His Art

Soleri learned a lot about making ceramics at the factory. He used these skills to create his own award-winning designs. He made ceramic and bronze windbells and special architectural structures. For over 40 years, selling these wind-bells helped pay for his building projects. These projects were meant to test his ideas about architecture. Today, you can still buy these bells at Arcosanti and Cosanti in Arizona.

In 1956, Soleri and his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. In 1970, he started building Arcosanti. He got help from students who were studying architecture and design. Arcosanti was a place where he could test his ideas about city design. People called it an "urban laboratory," and it became famous worldwide.

Paolo and Colly Soleri dedicated their lives to studying and trying new things in urban planning. They started the Cosanti Foundation. This is a non-profit group that helps educate people. Soleri's ideas were greatly influenced by a paleontologist and philosopher named Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Paolo Soleri died on April 9, 2013. He was buried at Arcosanti, next to his wife.

What is Arcosanti?

The main project of the Cosanti Foundation is Arcosanti. Soleri designed Arcosanti to be a city for 5,000 people. It has been under construction since 1970. Arcosanti is located about 70 miles (113 km) north of Phoenix. You can see it from Interstate I-17 in central Arizona.

The Idea Behind Arcosanti: Arcology

The goal of Arcosanti is to show Soleri's idea of "Arcology". This idea combines architecture with ecology. Arcology is about building cities that work well with nature. Soleri imagined these cities as very dense, meaning many people live close together. This design helps people interact more easily. It also makes shared services, like water and energy, more efficient.

Arcology aims to:

• Save water and reduce waste.
• Use less energy, raw materials, and land.
• Reduce pollution and waste.
• Help people connect more with the natural environment around them.

Arcosanti is a test model for a desert arcology. Soleri also imagined other arcology designs, like cities on the ocean. Since 1970, more than 7,000 people have helped build Arcosanti.

Other Important Achievements and Exhibitions

Paolo Soleri was a very active architect and thinker. He took part in many important events and his work was shown in many places.

Soleri's Contributions to Architecture Discussions

In 1984, Soleri participated in a big international architecture meeting. It was called "Mensch und Raum" (Man and Space) and was held in Vienna. He spoke alongside other famous architects. Soleri was also a respected lecturer at Arizona State University.

The Paolo Soleri Amphitheater

In 1966, Paolo Soleri started designing the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater. This outdoor theater is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was built for the Institute of American Indian Arts. The theater uses large forms made from silt, a type of mud.

Exhibitions of Soleri's Work

In 1970, a major exhibition called "City in the Image of Man - The Architectural Visions of Paolo Soleri" was organized. It started in Washington, DC, and then traveled all over the U.S. and Canada. Many people came to see it. Later, other exhibitions showed his ideas for future cities and space habitats. His work has been displayed worldwide.

Soleri's Involvement in Global Forums

In 1976, Paolo Soleri was a key speaker at UN Habitat I. This was the first United Nations meeting about human settlements. It took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Soleri appeared there with another famous inventor, Buckminster Fuller.

The Paolo Soleri Archives

The Paolo Soleri Archives keep all of Soleri's drawings and writings. These are located at Arcosanti. This collection helps people study his ideas and designs.

The Soleri Bridge and Plaza

On December 10, 2010, the Soleri Bridge and Plaza was finished. This project was asked for by Scottsdale Public Art. The 130-foot (40 m) long bridge is for people to walk across. It connects the Scottsdale Waterfront with Old Town Scottsdale. The bridge is part of a large plaza that includes artwork and a big bell assembly. Soleri designed all of these features.

A documentary film called The Vision Of Paolo Soleri: Prophet In The Desert (2013) tells his story. It includes interviews with many well-known people.

Awards and Recognition

Paolo Soleri received many honors for his work. He got special grants from the Graham Foundation and the Guggenheim Foundation. He also received three honorary doctorates and several awards from design groups around the world.

• 1963 – American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for Craftsmanship
• 1981 – Gold Medal at the World Bienniale of Architecture in Sofia, Bulgaria
• 1984 – Silver Medal from the Academie d' Architecture in Paris
• 1996 – Honorary Fellow, Royal Institute of British Architects
• 2000 – Leone d'oro at the Venice Biennale of Architecture for his lifelong work
• 2006 – Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for lifetime achievement

See also

In Spanish: Paolo Soleri para niños