Peter Blake

No understanding of the modern movement in architecture is possible without knowledge of its master builder, Mies van der Rohe. Together with documentation of his life, this film shows all his major buildings, as well as rare film footage of Mies explaining his philosophy. Phyllis Lambert relates her choice of Mies as the architect for the Seagram building. Mies's achievements and continuing influence are debated by architects Robert A.M. Stern, Robert Venturi, and Philip Johnson, by former students and by architectural historians. Mies is seen in rare documentary footage.

Genre and ground-breaking architect Paolo Soleri remains relatively unknown outside of architectural circles, but his legacy as an artist, builder and urban theorist is staggering. Narrated by actor-activist Peter Coyote, Aimee Madsen’s documentary takes a close look at Soleri’s origins and lifelong labor of love– the futuristic city of Arcosanti which Soleri sets in the unforgiving desert outside Phoenix, Arizona. Inspiring a near cult-like following rivaled only by the passionate devotees of the architectural giant Frank Lloyd Wright, Soleri’s city continues to grow piece-by-piece long after the death of its creator. Soleri is the most interesting architect you’ve never heard of.