Paolo Soleri: Another Urban Utopian

Abstract

This paper is a comparative analysis of two urban theorists, Paolo Soleri and Ebenezer Howard, with a focus on Soleri. It briefly introduces Soleri’s projects and theories. The paper then gives a history of Howard, especially focusing upon his Garden Cities, followed by a more detailed history of Soleri, which touches on his life before, during, and after the construction of his famous urban experiment, Arcosanti. The paper then compares the two theorists, highlighting their similarities and differences. The paper concludes with an author’s reflection upon the success and failure of Arcosanti as an urban experiment and as a model of a sustainable habitat.