1956: Paolo and Colly Soleri purchased the land in Paradise Valley, Arizona, upon which the Cosanti studios were built. Their first official activities began there in 1959.
1969: Arcosanti – Soleri coined the term "Arcology" to describe his designs for ecologically sound human habitats, as elaborated in The City in the Image of Man, published by MIT Press to accompany a 1970 exhibition of the same name at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC. The book develops the concept of Arcology and its design variations for different settings. Arcosanti, introduced as the last (30th) example of this exercise, was originally planned to house a relatively small population of 1,500 people. The physical construction of Arcosanti began in 1970.
1975–1977: Two Suns Arcosanti – The Xerox Corporation sponsored a major Soleri exhibition, featuring a series of new arcology designs that suggested a sustainable urban habitat employing alternative energy sources. The project was called Two Suns Arcology: The Cities Energized by the Sun. The Arcosanti master plan went through a major overhaul reflecting this methodology. In the following year, Plant Show venues gave Soleri additional funding to update the Arcosanti design. The projected population was increased to 5,000.
1978: During a festival held at the site on 7 October,[1] a grass fire ignited in the area being used as a parking lot and over 180 cars were damaged or destroyed.[2][3][4] This had the practical effect of ending the possibility of future music festivals at the site, due to the massive cost in damage payouts.[1]
1980: Critical Mass – Ten years into the construction of the first prototype arcology, a developmental adjustment was made to gain momentum for the project. The Critical Mass concept was introduced as an incremental phase to house 10 percent of the projected population of 5,000. A series of small-scale structures, providing various amenities, were designed to support a viable community. This was intended to support the next major step, the completion of Arcosanti.
1988: Nightfall – The science fiction film Nightfall was filmed at Arcosanti. Residents served as extras.
2001: Arcosanti 5000 – Developed from the Super Critical Mass in "Arcosanti 2000", with the design elements of "Nudging Space Arcology" added, Arcosanti 5000 features seven phases of truncated super-apse structures. It re-establishes the macro nature of this prototype arcology for 5,000 people. This design is in development, awaiting architectural and structural resolutions.
2009: Paolo Soleri's 90th Birthday Celebration and Alumni Reunion – Paolo Soleri celebrated his 90th birthday at Arcosanti, joined by 300 alumni and guests for the occasion. The official schedule started on June 19; this first day was devoted to alumni. Ongoing events included Kundalini yoga, a morning bell-carving workshop, a silent auction, and an exhibition with the newest renderings of Critical Mass. The festivities continued into the night with a bronze pour in the Foundry, followed by a techno party in the Vaults, and performances on a stage in the Ceramics Apse.[5]
The birthday celebration for Soleri resumed on Saturday with attendees partaking in a gargantuan "frugal soup" gathering in the Vaults.[6] Documentary film maker Geoffrey Madeja presented a short video. Tomiaki Tamura followed with a visual presentation of Paolo's life and work and a pictograph especially choreographed for Soleri. The final performance of the night was hosted by Flam Chen, in a series of acrobatics involving dazzling fire, lights, and extreme heights.[7][8]
2011: On July 14, 2011, the Cosanti Foundation announced that its founder Soleri had retired as its President and CEO. "There are other things that I want to accomplish," said the 92-year-old Soleri. "I am ready to leave the management of the Foundation and its primary project – the urban laboratory Arcosanti – to the next generation." That generation was to be led by Boston architect Jeff Stein, AIA. Stein's proposals for Arcosanti began with: a half-dozen new apartment buildings; a canopy for the amphitheater; a renovated commercial bakery; and a storage unit for Paolo Soleri's collection of architectural models.
2021: Elizabeth Martin-Malikian became the CEO of the Cosanti Foundation. She commented at the time that "Phoenix and Arizona are at the epicenter of climate change, and global studies are a big focus. There is potential to provide forums and host educational conferences on site and we are already working on that."[9]
Arcosanti operates under aegis of the Cosanti Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Arcosanti is the home of the bell-making enterprise of Cosanti Originals, which sells Soleri's sculptural wind bells to support the greater architectural project.
Arcosanti at the golden hour: The Vaults (left) and the Crafts III building (right), with the Ceramics Apse hidden between them.
^ a b "Arcosanti and Music". Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ "Arcosanti '78: Music Under Fire" Archived 15 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The AZEdge, 20 October 2011
^ Google News Archive The Prescott Courier, 12 September 1979
^ "Arcosanti car fire photograph", Flickr
^ "Paolo's 90th Bronze Pour" Arcosanti Daily Progress Report
^ Paolo's 90th Frugal Soup Arcosanti Daily Progress Report
^ Paolo's 90th Flam Chen Performance Arcosanti Daily Progress
^ Paolo's 90th Flam Chen Performance pt2 Arcosanti Daily Progress
^ "The Cosanti Foundation's New CEO Plans to Preserve the Past, But Embrace the Future". Phoenix Home & Garden. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
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