This article originally appeared in the Experience Scottsdale 2017 Visitors Guide. 

Cosanti is one of Arizona’s most eclectic treasures. Hidden on a quiet residential street in Paradise Valley, Cosanti is part art studio and part architectural experiment. The landscaping highlights what is possible in the desert, and exploring the grounds and buildings is an ideal way to spend a couple of hours on a sunny afternoon.

The famous bronze windbells that Soleri created remain a favorite with visitors today. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Paolo Soleri was a colorful and passionate Italian architect who first came to Arizona in 1947 as a student of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Soleri became known for his work on bridges, but his passion was creating frugal, self-sustaining cities. He spent his life working toward that vision and developed a concept he termed arcology (architecture + ecology). Soleri and his wife moved to Scottsdale in 1956 and founded Cosanti as their home and studio.

Cosanti – which means “Before (or Against) Things” in Italian – was a living experiment for Soleri’s vision, and he resided there until his death in 2013. I was fascinated with the domes that seemed to defy gravity. Soleri created earth-formed concrete structures, giving everything a bit of an otherworldly feel.

Soleri is probably best known for his beautiful hand-poured bronze windbells. The Cosanti Foundation continues to create more than 50,000 bells each year. As I wandered the grounds on a self-guided tour, the rhythmic sound of all those bells mesmerized me. If you visit on a weekday morning, you might be lucky enough to witness a bronze casting. Cosanti is open daily.