Iwan Baan
  • Photography
  • Books
  • Exhibitions
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Arcosanti – Paolo Soleri

2024

Paolo Soleri settled in Paradise Valley, Arizona in 1955. On the 5-acre plot where he made his home, he began building experimental dwellings using unique and innovative building techniques. Called Cosanti, Soleri’s former studios and home is recognized as an Arizona Historic Site. Using an earth-casting method where concrete was poured over the earth, taking its shape from the contours of the land, Soleri created the unique and provocative structures and dwellings at Cosanti. Sometimes, soil was intentionally mounded or colored with added cement pigments. Once the concrete had cured, the soil was excavated out from the concrete shell. Evocative of Grecian and Egyptian structures from the ancient world, or alluding to those seen in movies set in a time long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, Cosanti’s experimental architecture has a beguiling otherworldliness.

Where most builders today would build a building from the ground up, Soleri built his structures from the roof down. Many of Soleri’s structures at Cosanti are built below ground level and surrounded by mounds of earth, acting as natural insulation to better moderate the dwellings’ interior temperatures.

Part of the Office of Good Intentions. Human(s) Work

Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite
Favorite

Tags:

  • arizona,
  • Earth,
  • Experimental,
  • Paolo Soleri,
  • soil,
  • and structures

Other projects tagged with arizona, Earth, Experimental, Paolo Soleri, soil and structures

Zollverein School of Management, Essen Germany – SANAA

Zollverein School of Management, Essen Germany – SANAA

Basel Messe – Herzog & de Meuron

Basel Messe – Herzog & de Meuron

Friendship Centre – URBANA

Friendship Centre – URBANA

Seijo Apartments, Tokyo – Kazuyo Sejima

Seijo Apartments, Tokyo – Kazuyo Sejima

CCTV Headquarters, Beijing China – OMA

CCTV Headquarters, Beijing China – OMA

The Shed – Diller Scofidio + Renfro

The Shed – Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Alexandra Interpretation Centre, Johannesburg – Peter Rich Architects

Alexandra Interpretation Centre, Johannesburg – Peter Rich Architects

Ensamble – Casa del Lector

Ensamble – Casa del Lector

Gando Secondary School – Francis Kéré

Gando Secondary School – Francis Kéré

Absolute Towers, Toronto Ontario – Ma Yansong MAD

Absolute Towers, Toronto Ontario – Ma Yansong MAD

  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Arcosanti – Paolo Soleri

Iwan Baan Photography, Rozenstraat 145, 1016 NP Amsterdam, The Netherlands, e-mail: studio@iwan.com — all images © Iwan Baan 1996 - 2025