AP Photo/Bob Daugherty

Slideshow - Paolo Soleri: The True Legend of the Arizona Architecture Scene

When architect and artist Paolo Soleri passed away in April, Arizona (and the world) lost a prominent visionary and innovative creative force.

Soleri pioneered "arcology," a concept that fuses ecology and architecture, and created a live-in example of his theory with the experimental town Arcosanti, located near Cordes Junction. However, in "Paolo Soleri Is the True Legend of the Arizona Architecture Scene," Kathleen Vanesian writes that Soleri's studio compound and original home, Cosanti, is just as important to his legacy as Arcosanti.

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Architect and Artist Paolo Soleri (1919-2013)
Slideshow - Paolo Soleri: The True Legend of the Arizona Architecture Scene

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Jane's Walk

Every year over the first weekend in May people all over the world (75 cities in 15 countries as of 2011) gather to take part in Jane's Walk, an event that formed out of famed writer and urbanist Jane Jacob's legacy (and coincides with her birthday).

In case you failed to notice, it's May already, which means that besides the fact that this year is flying by, it's time for Jane's Walk this Saturday.

See Also:
- Jane's Walk Explores Historic Neighborhoods in Phoenix and Mesa
- Five Must-Attend Lectures in Metro Phoenix This May
- Bookmans Presents "Banned Books on Film -- 1984" at Phoenix Art Museum in May

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Courtesy Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Flynn Redux 2012 project by CoLAB; photo by Mark Boislcair

Architecture and design fans, this is your week.

Modern Phoenix Week is in full gear and, tonight, a panel of local architects will share their work for a live audience at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

See also:
- Architect and Artist Paolo Soleri (1919-2013)
- Jonathan Adler for JC Penney: The Drool-Worthy, The Bland, and What's on Our Wish List

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Paolo Soleri

Paolo Soleri was an artist and an architect known for his critical views on urban sprawl and the development of Arcosanti, an experimental community near Cordes Junction.

As a public figure and champion of ecological architecture (which he coined "Arcology"), Soleri drew crowds of fans and critics alike to see his latest work. Soleri died Tuesday morning at age 93.

See also:
- Scottsdale's Soleri Bridge Is a Testament to the Artist -- But It Ain't Perfect
- TOMORROWLAND LORD: An interview with Paolo Soleri

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http://www.jcpenney.com

When we heard the famous potter and interior designer Jonathan Adler was collaborating with JC Penney to create an affordable home accessory collection, we jumped in the car.

Adler, who designed the Parker in Palm Springs and has 19 of his own namesake stores worldwide, has an iconic style that's whimsical, approachable, and downright enviable. Lucky us, his pieces, titled "happy chic" are now available and flying off the shelves at JC Penney. Here are our picks for the Drool-Worthy, the Bland, and a few pieces reserved for our Wish List (take note, friends ...):

See also:
- Simon Doonan's Gay Men Don't Get Fat and Spring Trend of Choice
- Orla Kiely for Bed Bath & Beyond: A Preview

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Andrew Pielage

Good news, Frank Lloyd Wright fans and historic preservation junkies. While the latest buyers of the David and Gladys Wright House wishes to remain anonymous, they've hired local attorney Grady Gammage, Jr., who announced this morning that new plans for the house would include public access.

See also:
- Frank Lloyd Wright House in Phoenix Sold Again to New Anonymous Buyer
- Buyer for the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Phoenix Drops Bid
- Frank Lloyd Wright House in Phoenix Sold to Anonymous Buyer

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http://www.phxudw.com/schedule

In April, ASU's School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning will set the stage for local creatives, academics, and urban planners for a week of discussion and brainstorming.

Phoenix Urban Design Week, from April 4 to 13, will include workshops, lectures, a film screening, a community gathering, and celebration of food in a variety of venues in Tempe and downtown Phoenix.

See also:
- Modern Phoenix Home Tour Tickets are Now on Sale
- A Look at the Life and Controversial Work of Landscape Architect Bill Tonnesen
- Guggenheim-Inspired Observation Tower Proposed for Downtown Phoenix

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ModernPhoenix.net

If you're a fan of modern architecture and design and are quick to the punch, you might be able to nab a ticket or two to the 9th annual Modern Phoenix Home Tour, slated for Sunday April 21.

The event sells out every year, and with this year's route of West Side neighborhoods full of homes by Ralph Haver, Charles Polachek and Robert Starkovich, as well as contemporary remodels by Mod Architecture + Planning, JNL Homes, JoBuilt Construction and Modern Design Environments LLC, you better believe there are going to be more than a few people racing you to the ticket line.

See also:
- A Modern Phoenix Tour with Alison King
- Alison King's Modern Phoenix Home

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Maya Dukmasova

Loomans with her cat, who was named Bamboo, in her former Central Phoenix home.

Taz Loomans is an architect, a writer, a real estate developer, and the head honcho at Blooming Rock.

She's a first-generation immigrant (her family's Indian), who was born in Mozambique. She says she moved to Phoenix 22 years ago, but told Jackalope Ranch last June that she hadn't felt home here until about three years ago.

This week, Loomans is packing her bags and moving to Portland.

See also:
- Blooming Rock: Your Personal Guide to Architecture in Phoenix
- Taz Loomans' Three Palms in Central Phoenix
- Taz Loomans in Jackalope Ranch's 100 Creatives

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Images courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group

The proposed Phoenix Observation Tower.

Downtown Phoenix could be getting a very unique and spectacular-looking addition to its skyline sometime in the near future, if a local real estate developer's plans become a reality.

News broke online this morning that Phoenix-based developer NovaWest has announced its intention to construct a gigantic 420-foot observation tower that would loom over the Arizona Science Center, Chase Field, and other downtown structures.

Designed by Netherlands-based architecture design firm Bjarke Ingels Group, the proposed structure -- which has been nicknamed "The Pin" and features a globe-shaped open-air spiral sphere atop a monolithic reinforced concrete tower -- would give Phoenix a rather distinctive landmark to call its own.

See also:
- A Downtown Phoenix Wish List: Seven Arts/Culture Resources We Need

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