Esoteric Survey

The Dome House, 1949, in Cave Creek Arizona, by Paolo Soleri and Mark Mills. Both were former apprentices under  Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West.  The house was commissioned by Lenora Woods, who would soon become Paolo's mother-in-law. I've been near the house in the past. However, this time I wasn't just snooping. Docomomo hosted a tour, which was led by Director of Paolo Soleri Studios, Roger Tomalty. Source: Julius Shulman © J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute
The ribs of the dome were constructed with war surplus materials.
Source: Paolo Soleri at Dome House
Source: Soleri: Architecture as Human Ecology by Antonietta Iolanda Lima
The initial design had an opaque section that was manually rotated for shade.At some point the rotating mechanism broke, so the top has been modified to shield the sun. The cooler was added and now doesn't function. It would be great to see it removed. 


Source: Julius Shulman © J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute
This was w…

Arcosanti (1970- )
An Urban Laboratory


Sunset
Sunrise
Cosanti (1956-1974)




See what's inside--here.
A super special assembly. 

Barrel Vault at Cosanti (1968-71)
Gates in front of the DeConcini house in Phoenix, Az by Paolo Soleri (1981)

See more here.
Paolo Soleri Bridge and Plaza (2010)

More on the bridge here

Visionary architect and artist Paolo Soleri has died at 93
Paolo Soleri at Taliesin West in 1948.   Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri both died on April 9th. There has got to be something to that. 
Photo: Lois D. Gottlieb, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives  (The Museum of Modern Art | Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York).  Via Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The Arcosanti website has posted an in memoriam.

Cosanti is located in Paradise Valley, just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. Paolo Soleri started working on his earthcasting buildings at Cosanti in the mid 1950s.
The North Apse (1964)
The bell / lamp hanging from the North Apse.
The Ceramics Studio (1958) The building in the background with the round windows is Soleri's drafting studio, now the Cosanti office. (1959).
Paolo working at the ceramics studio Source: Life Magazine, 1966
Ceramics Studio dome.


There are some nice old bells in there.
Pool and Canopy, 1966 This is where Paolo takes his morning swims, though I was told that he doesn't go in the winter anymore. He believes the morning swims are good for his health.  At 93, there must be something to it.  


Cat-Cast House (1965) door.
Cat-Cast House (1965) with an incredible special assembly bell.
South Courtyard Apse (1965)