wright of way

take a tour oF Frank LLoyd wrights taLiesin west

By yvonne Newman

a facade of taliesin west

want to explore an architectural treasure? The Sonoran desert just outside of Scottsdale is home to Taliesin west, a Frank Lloyd wright creation that served as his winter residence, studio and school for apprentices until 1959, when he passed away at the age of 91. Today, its the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd wright Foundation and the campus of the Frank Lloyd wright School of Architecture.
Considered by most to be the 20th centurys greatest architect, Wright had a strong connection to the desert. He bought a plot of land for $3.50 an acre at the foot of the McDowell Mountains in 1937 and began developing a bold new concept for desert living there. Taliesin West received its name from Wrights summer home, Taliesin, which is located in Spring Green, Wis. Regarded as one of his masterworks, the sprawling complex of buildings that make up Taliesin West occupies nearly 550 acres. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1982. Every detail of Taliesin West was conceived by Wright and then built by his studentsgenerally using indigenous materials. Visitors are awed by the unique and intricate structures. Walls are fashioned from wood frames and filled with desert rock embedded in masonry. Terraces, gardens, lawns and walkways link all of the units. Wright even designed ergonomically elegant chairs among other interior elements. During his lifetime, Wright continually altered and expanded the complex. There are sleeping quarters, a main living room (called the Garden Room by Wright), a reflecting pool and his private office. In addition to the music pavilion and seminar theater, the cabaret theater always intrigues visitors. Almost hexagonal in shape, it eliminates echoes and provides 95 percent acoustic perfection, so that someone sitting in the back row can hear a whisper onstage.
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the reflecting pond at taliesin west

At Taliesin West, public tours are available daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Guests can take the popular one-hour Panorama tour, the dramatic two-hour Night Lights tour or the comprehensive three-hour Behind the Scenes tour. There is even a 90-minute Desert Walk tour that explores the areas beautiful trails. On all of them, knowledgeable guides provide basic insights into Wrights theories about design and how they relate to the natural desert. Visitors can also book private tours led by an architect, Wright associate or artist with advance notice. A living memorial, Taliesin West is a marvel of architecture. For more information, call 480.627.5340 or visit franklloydwright.org.

Photos courtesy of Steve Minor

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5/24/12 1:51 PM