Soleri Bridge and Plaza - 8a Biennal 2014

Steve Martino

Scottsdale’s Soleri Bridge and Plaza, is at once a pedestrian passage, solar calendar and gathering place along the Scottsdale Waterfront. This public space appeals to a diverse audience ranging from casual waterfront visitors and local residents, to students, tourists, architects, and art lovers. By celebrating solar events, the bridge and plaza unify the past and the present.
This dynamic project marks solar events and connects humans conceptually across time; monolithic earth cast panels reflect the Cosanti aesthetic and create a space for the mammoth bronze Goldwater Bell Assembly which Soleri designed in 1964.
The bridge is anchored by two 64-foot pylons and is twenty-seven feet wide on the south side narrowing to eighteen feet on the north. Situated at a true north axis, the bridge marks solar events produced by the sun’s shadow.
The 22,000 square foot plaza includes totemic panels replicating the slip form and cast wall motif representative of Cosanti and Arcosanti. Each panel was individually designed by Paolo Soleri and produced at Cosanti Studio. The ten earth cast panels framing the southern boundary of the plaza provide screening to the alley beyond. A larger, eleventh panel frames the north side of the bridge, and acts as a book-end to the space.
This multi-use plaza encourages awareness of our connections, to the sun and the natural world. The plaza also is the Scottsdale road entry to the waterfront promenade. The design connects pedestrian and bicycles across the bridge and meets all accessibility requirements.

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