Born in Turin in 1919, Soleri was best known for Arcosanti, an experimental village he established in the Arizona desert devoted to his theory of ‘arcology’, or architecture in harmony with ecology.
After studying with Frank Lloyd Wright in Arizona in 1946, he returned and settled there 10 years later where he developed influential theories on buildings that respect nature and spoke out against urban sprawl.
In 1970 he founded Arcosanti, a futuristic community planned for 5,000 people that over the next 40 years received international acclaim as an urban laboratory.
Paolo Soleri will be buried at Arcosanti alongside his wife Colly, who died 31 years ago.
In 2006 he won a National Design Award and in 2000 he received a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement from the Venice Biennale.
Earlier this year production wrapped on a feature-length documentary on the architect called The Vision of Paolo Soleri: Prophet in The Desert.