Desert Dreamer Interview with Paolo Soleri

Desert Dreamer
Interview with Paolo Soleri

We travel to the Arizona desert to speak with the Italian-American urbanist and designer Paolo Soleri, who began construction on his experimental town Arcosanti in 1970.

My San Fran: Bonnie Bridges,

My San Fran: Bonnie Bridges, Pt. 1-A
The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Bridges, feeling that the "intellectual pursuit of ideas" had "run amok" in Libeskind's work, expected not to like the museum. Find out what caused her to change her mind. One reason why she thinks this adaptive reuse project succeeded: "Having the creative soul that Libeskind has often rises to its best work when it has to be resisted by something."

My San Fran: Bonnie Bridges, Pt. 1-B
The Contemporary Jewish Museum

In this tour, Bridges admires Libeskind's "subtle, elegant uses of color"; his stirring juxtaposition of shapes and forms; and his embrace of patterning--usually frowned upon in Modernism.

My San Fran: Christopher Haas,

My San Fran: Christopher Haas, Pt. 1
de Young Museum: The Skin

Watch as Haas, who worked closely with Herzog & de Meuron on this project, discusses in detail one of the building's most distinguishing features: its bronze skin, which is both embossed and perforated.

My San Fran: Christopher Haas, Pt. 2
de Young Museum: Tower & Exterior

Watch as Haas, who worked closely with Herzog and de Meuron on this project, explains why the museum’s iconic tower rotates 30 degrees; and what structural-engineering steps were taken to limit damage during seismic events. He also discusses the museum’s 40-foot, perforated cantilever that gives the impression of sitting under a canopy of trees; and he reveals his own favorite spot.

My San Fran: Christopher Haas, Pt. 3
de Young Museum: Interior

Watch as Haas, who worked closely with Herzog and de Meuron on this project, explains how the museum is integrated with the surrounding park and builds a relationship between nature and art.