"Paper architects” frequently dream up futuristic visions for the built environment that never transcend theoretical discourse. In his thousands of drawings, architect and artist Paolo Soleri (1919–2013) envisioned structures that supported a way of life more in tune with the ecosystem than the contemporaneous resource-consumptive culture. “His genius lay in his artistry and imagination,” says Claire C. Carter, an assistant curator at work on a series of Soleri exhibitions at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

“He reached beyond social conventions in order to imagine a world that encourages culture, art, and craft and brings people closer to one another and closer to the natural world,” Carter explains.

Other architects explored high-density megastructures, but Soleri took the concept further by defining the social system of people living within his “arcologies”—a term he coined by combining architecture and ecology. In 1970, Soleri broke ground on Arcosanti, located 60 miles outside of Phoenix, Arizona. The “prototype structure for environmental and social transformation” put his philosophies into action. The self-sufficient community, designed to accommodate up to 5,000 people, features residences, commercial and institutional spaces, agriculture, and visitor accommodations.

Arcosanti was a visionary project when built and remains relevant today. Over 50,000 visitors annually make the pilgrimage to the site for public programs, musical performances, and to experience Soleri’s magnum opus in action. On April 9, 2013, at the age of 93, Soleri passed away. A memorial commemorating his life and work takes place at Arcosanti the weekend of September 21, 2013. arcosanti.org