Wikipedia: Cosanti is the gallery and studio of Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri, serving as his residence until his death in 2013. Located in Paradise Valley, Arizona, U.S., it is open to the public. Cosanti is marked by terraced landscaping, experimental earth-formed concrete structures, and sculptural wind-bells.
I used to go visit friends that worked there. Usually when it was hot, we would go swimming and the owner, Paolo would go swimming as well. He was nice, quiet and sort of stuck to himself and didn’t really join in our conversations. He would sit in the pool for a bit, get up and dry off and disappear into his residence.
I knew he was a pretty cool dude. He imagined an artist colony and built it from his plans. The place was basically molded and reinforced concrete with lots of shade sails. The place was mindful of airflow and although it was hot, it was livable in the Arizona heat.
I remember our house having so many Soleri bells. I could tell the strength of the wind depending on the sound. I hung small ones high up and in the open so just the lightest breeze would actuate them tinging, signaling light and variable wind. Heavier and larger bells on the side of the house lower and closer to the area that was in the typical wind direction. The heaviest bells went near the front door in the lee side of the house away from the local wind. Once you could hear the deep tone of the largest bells, you knew it was windy and maybe a dust storm was on the way.
Time and a divorce put distance between my bells and the whole of Cosanti. Paolo died, my friends went with the divorce and that was it. A few years ago I visited both complexes and bought a single small bell. It was so expensive! …and I used to literally have about a dozen and the largest ones were several hundred dollars if not more. Those were the days but still I have a Soleri bell hanging out front.
