Cosanti

Cosanti is a hidden courtyard of strange and beautiful shapes tucked into the expensive suburb of Paradise Valley, and it is one of the most rewarding small stops in the Valley for anyone interested in architecture or craft. This was the home, studio and workshop of the architect Paolo Soleri, begun in the 1950s, a decade and more before he started Arcosanti, and it is where he experimented with earth-casting: shaping mounds of desert silt, pouring concrete over them and digging the earth away to leave shell-like vaults, apses and half-buried rooms that stay cool in summer. The low structures, shaded courtyards and terraces feel organic, playful and slightly otherworldly, and they now hold the gallery and foundry of Cosanti Originals, where the famous bronze and ceramic windbells are made. Visitors can walk into the gallery and grounds during opening hours, which run Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am, and on weekdays (not weekends, and not on days forecast above 115 degrees) the foundry team pours molten bronze into bell molds, usually at about 10:30am and 12:30pm, a fiery, noisy and mesmerizing few minutes. For the full story, book a guided tour of about an hour, offered on weekday mornings and timed around the morning pour where possible; tours are paid, with discounts for students and under-nineteens, and the fees support the nonprofit Cosanti Foundation. Specialty and private group tours can be arranged. Note that Cosanti closed early on October 31 and for the whole of November 1, 2026 because of storms, and it also closes on a long list of federal holidays, so check before driving over.

The site is compact and the paths are narrow, uneven and stepped in places, so accessibility is limited and there are no ADA-accessible restrooms; contact the team in advance about any needs. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sun protection and water, and expect a good deal of standing if you take the tour. Guests on tours complete a consent and release waiver, linked in the booking confirmation. Personal photos are welcome; commercial shoots need approval.

Think of Cosanti and Arcosanti as two chapters of one story. Cosanti shows Soleri the craftsman and experimenter at human scale in the city; Arcosanti, about an hour north, shows the visionary town builder. The two participate jointly in the library Culture Pass program. If you are short on time, Cosanti alone gives you the essence in an hour and sends you home with a windbell, the classic souvenir of a design-minded Arizona trip. The bells range from small ceramic pieces to large bronze assemblies, and every purchase supports the foundation's work.

Location makes it an easy add-on. Cosanti sits on Doubletree Ranch Road in Paradise Valley, about ten minutes from Old Town Scottsdale and close to the resorts along Lincoln Drive and Scottsdale Road, so it fits a morning before lunch in Old Town or an afternoon after a hike on Camelback. Pair it with Taliesin West for a two-architect day: Wright in the morning, his apprentice Soleri after lunch. Fit: architecture and design lovers, couples seeking an unusual, quiet stop, and families with curious older children who will remember the bronze pour.