The Legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West Endures
150 years after the architect’s birth, his Arizona home, school and studio remain a lab for others learning the craft
Nora Burba Trulsson
June 8, 2017
Houzz Contributor. Freelance writer specializing in architecture, interiors, landscape, design and lifestyle topics. http://www.noraburbatrulsson.com
Houzz Contributor. Freelance writer specializing in architecture, interiors, landscape,... More
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth. And it’s been 80 years since the iconoclastic architect first set foot on 640 acres of untouched desert land at the base of the McDowell Mountains in what is now Scottsdale, Arizona. Within months of that first visit, Wright bought the land, and his crew of young apprentice architects began building Taliesin West, what became his winter home, architectural studio and school.
Now a National Historic Landmark, Taliesin West is open to the public through guided tours and programs. It remains a sort of laboratory for architects, students and remodelers who are learning the craft, as well as for those maintaining and updating the aging structures Wright and his students designed and built. On June 8 — Wright’s birthday — tours will be $1.50, priced in honor of the sesquicentennial celebration. Birthday cake will abound.
Now a National Historic Landmark, Taliesin West is open to the public through guided tours and programs. It remains a sort of laboratory for architects, students and remodelers who are learning the craft, as well as for those maintaining and updating the aging structures Wright and his students designed and built. On June 8 — Wright’s birthday — tours will be $1.50, priced in honor of the sesquicentennial celebration. Birthday cake will abound.
Photo by Foskett Creative
Frank Lloyd Wright, his wife, Olgivanna Wright, and their architectural apprentices began traveling to Arizona from Taliesin, Wright’s original Wisconsin home and studio, in the 1920s to consult on the Arizona Biltmore hotel and other projects. A near-fatal bout of pneumonia and the high cost of heating Taliesin during Depression-era winters convinced Wright in 1937 to search for a place to create a desert “camp” where the group could live cheaply and enjoy winter sunshine. Most of the buildings constructed at Taliesin West, as the Arizona location was called, were built between 1938 and the mid-1950s by the apprentices under Wright’s direction.
“Wright used Taliesin West as an architecture lab where he experimented with materials, forms and technology,” says Stuart Graff, CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees both Taliesin locations. “His influence still holds today — how we live, how we build, how we affect the environment.”
Seen here from what’s known as the sunset terrace are (from left to right) the architectural studio, an administration room, and the kitchen and dining wing. The Wrights’ private residence is at the far right, connected to the main building by a breezeway.
Frank Lloyd Wright, his wife, Olgivanna Wright, and their architectural apprentices began traveling to Arizona from Taliesin, Wright’s original Wisconsin home and studio, in the 1920s to consult on the Arizona Biltmore hotel and other projects. A near-fatal bout of pneumonia and the high cost of heating Taliesin during Depression-era winters convinced Wright in 1937 to search for a place to create a desert “camp” where the group could live cheaply and enjoy winter sunshine. Most of the buildings constructed at Taliesin West, as the Arizona location was called, were built between 1938 and the mid-1950s by the apprentices under Wright’s direction.
“Wright used Taliesin West as an architecture lab where he experimented with materials, forms and technology,” says Stuart Graff, CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees both Taliesin locations. “His influence still holds today — how we live, how we build, how we affect the environment.”
Seen here from what’s known as the sunset terrace are (from left to right) the architectural studio, an administration room, and the kitchen and dining wing. The Wrights’ private residence is at the far right, connected to the main building by a breezeway.
Viewed at dusk, the main building includes second-story apartments and guest quarters, as well as a broad deck with views over the desert valley. Photos by Andrew Pielage except where noted
The apprentices — young men and women who paid tuition to study architecture and building with Wright — constructed Taliesin West largely by hand using rocks culled from the site and concrete laid up in plywood forms to create “desert masonry” walls, redwood for beams, and, originally, canvas for the roofing material, which created a filtered, natural illumination for the interiors.
The materials were inexpensive and served to link the buildings to the arid site. Wright designed the angled structures to mimic the forms of the nearby mountains, with details that were abstractions of cactuses and Native American imagery.
Taliesin West’s director of preservation, Frederick Prozzillo Jr., says that the site is currently testing modern, more durable materials that replicate the original canvas roofs.
“It’s a challenge to maintain and preserve these historic structures,” Prozzillo says. “The buildings are all custom designs, built by young people who were learning about architecture and construction. But we are trying to be faithful to the concept that, at its core, Taliesin West was a desert camp.”
The apprentices — young men and women who paid tuition to study architecture and building with Wright — constructed Taliesin West largely by hand using rocks culled from the site and concrete laid up in plywood forms to create “desert masonry” walls, redwood for beams, and, originally, canvas for the roofing material, which created a filtered, natural illumination for the interiors.
The materials were inexpensive and served to link the buildings to the arid site. Wright designed the angled structures to mimic the forms of the nearby mountains, with details that were abstractions of cactuses and Native American imagery.
Taliesin West’s director of preservation, Frederick Prozzillo Jr., says that the site is currently testing modern, more durable materials that replicate the original canvas roofs.
“It’s a challenge to maintain and preserve these historic structures,” Prozzillo says. “The buildings are all custom designs, built by young people who were learning about architecture and construction. But we are trying to be faithful to the concept that, at its core, Taliesin West was a desert camp.”
Despite predictions that Wright’s site at the base of the mountains was dry, the architect cajoled a local with a drill to dig deeper and found water at 486 feet.
The triangular reflecting pool wasn’t just for show. It served as a water storage basin. In case of a lightning-caused brush fire in the surrounding desert, apprentices were instructed to wade into the thigh-deep water and form a bucket brigade.
The triangular reflecting pool wasn’t just for show. It served as a water storage basin. In case of a lightning-caused brush fire in the surrounding desert, apprentices were instructed to wade into the thigh-deep water and form a bucket brigade.
Taliesin West is tucked into its desert site, lush with creosote, chain-fruit cholla, ironwood and palo verde trees.
Taliesin, a Welsh word meaning “shining brow,” was chosen by Wright to emphasize the importance of hard work as well as his siting technique of placing structures on the “brow” of a hillside instead of on a hilltop.
Taliesin, a Welsh word meaning “shining brow,” was chosen by Wright to emphasize the importance of hard work as well as his siting technique of placing structures on the “brow” of a hillside instead of on a hilltop.
Photo by Foskett Creative
Taliesin West was more than 25 miles from Phoenix — with not much in between — when it was first being built.
Often, the only lights the Wrights and apprentices could see were the campfires of shepherds who ran their flocks through the property seasonally, moving sheep between low desert and higher forested grazing grounds.
After several parcels were sold during the decades, the compound now sits on 491 acres of mostly open desert land.
Taliesin West was more than 25 miles from Phoenix — with not much in between — when it was first being built.
Often, the only lights the Wrights and apprentices could see were the campfires of shepherds who ran their flocks through the property seasonally, moving sheep between low desert and higher forested grazing grounds.
After several parcels were sold during the decades, the compound now sits on 491 acres of mostly open desert land.
The Wrights’ private living room was large enough to accommodate the formal Saturday evening gatherings they enjoyed hosting, where young apprentices could learn social graces while mixing with clients and notable visitors.
A fireplace warmed the space. The furniture, including the built-in banquette, was designed by Wright.
The Wrights and the apprentices lived at Taliesin West seasonally from October to May before decamping to Wisconsin. Air conditioning, such as the in-floor vents in the living room, was added in more recent years.
Today, the room is still used for gatherings and is open to the public through guided tours.
A fireplace warmed the space. The furniture, including the built-in banquette, was designed by Wright.
The Wrights and the apprentices lived at Taliesin West seasonally from October to May before decamping to Wisconsin. Air conditioning, such as the in-floor vents in the living room, was added in more recent years.
Today, the room is still used for gatherings and is open to the public through guided tours.
The glass for the living room was recycled from a downtown Phoenix department store that was being torn down. The collage on the low wall to the right was done by author, congresswoman and ambassador Clare Boothe Luce, who, with her husband, Henry Luce, founder and publisher of Time, were frequent visitors to Taliesin West.
The translucent ceiling, now a polycarbonate material, was originally cost-efficient canvas, which was subject to dry rot after a season or two in the desert sun.
The translucent ceiling, now a polycarbonate material, was originally cost-efficient canvas, which was subject to dry rot after a season or two in the desert sun.
The cabaret theater, completed in 1950, was one of the last buildings at Taliesin West designed by Wright before his death in 1959.
The theater, with a sloping floor, is partially below grade, and its angled seating provides perfect sightlines of the small stage.
The theater was used for many formal dinners. The Wrights occupied a large table at the top, while guests and apprentices sat at smaller folding tables along the lower levels. The acoustics are so perfect that it’s said the Wrights could eavesdrop on anyone’s conversations.
Movies, as well as concerts, often provided after-dinner entertainment. Fold-down shutters on the openings at right can be used to block out daylight or views of people entering the theater in the adjacent hallway.
The theater is still in use for special dinners and small-scale performances, and can be seen on tours.
The theater, with a sloping floor, is partially below grade, and its angled seating provides perfect sightlines of the small stage.
The theater was used for many formal dinners. The Wrights occupied a large table at the top, while guests and apprentices sat at smaller folding tables along the lower levels. The acoustics are so perfect that it’s said the Wrights could eavesdrop on anyone’s conversations.
Movies, as well as concerts, often provided after-dinner entertainment. Fold-down shutters on the openings at right can be used to block out daylight or views of people entering the theater in the adjacent hallway.
The theater is still in use for special dinners and small-scale performances, and can be seen on tours.
By night, the architectural studio serves as a lantern toward a gravel patio and the citrus grove.
The doors to the studio are painted Cherokee red, a signature Wright color.
The doors to the studio are painted Cherokee red, a signature Wright color.
Photo by Neeta Patel
Wright’s architecture studio, shown here more recently, was one of the first buildings constructed at Taliesin West.
Wright sat at the back of the studio, with a piano nearby when he needed musical inspiration. Apprentices, who were also called the Fellowship, sat at other drafting tables.
The desert studio was where Wright worked on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Marin County Civic Center and other notable works.
Wright began his apprenticeship program in 1932. The program became formalized and was called the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, offering an accredited degree program starting in the late 1980s. More recently, it became the School of Architecture at Taliesin after reaching a fundraising goal to become independent of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, allowing it to maintain its accreditation. Through a June 2017 donation, the school has received use of the David and Gladys Wright home in Phoenix for community programming and educational activities. The house also will be used as a hands-on architecture lab as restoration on it continues. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the home in 1950 for his son and daughter-in-law.
Enrollment is expected to be about 25 students this fall, many coming from around the globe to study how Wright’s theories translate into modern architecture.
Today, the studio is used by students working on a three-year master’s degree program or an eight-week immersion session.
Wright’s architecture studio, shown here more recently, was one of the first buildings constructed at Taliesin West.
Wright sat at the back of the studio, with a piano nearby when he needed musical inspiration. Apprentices, who were also called the Fellowship, sat at other drafting tables.
The desert studio was where Wright worked on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Marin County Civic Center and other notable works.
Wright began his apprenticeship program in 1932. The program became formalized and was called the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, offering an accredited degree program starting in the late 1980s. More recently, it became the School of Architecture at Taliesin after reaching a fundraising goal to become independent of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, allowing it to maintain its accreditation. Through a June 2017 donation, the school has received use of the David and Gladys Wright home in Phoenix for community programming and educational activities. The house also will be used as a hands-on architecture lab as restoration on it continues. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the home in 1950 for his son and daughter-in-law.
Enrollment is expected to be about 25 students this fall, many coming from around the globe to study how Wright’s theories translate into modern architecture.
Today, the studio is used by students working on a three-year master’s degree program or an eight-week immersion session.
During the course of building Taliesin West, the apprentices discovered boulders on the property covered in ancient petroglyphs. Wright had them mounted and displayed in several prominent spots.
Photo from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
A former apprentice, San Francisco architect Aaron Green, gave Olgivanna Wright a metal dragon as a gift. Originally used as a fountain, the dragon was refitted with a gas line and now does its fire-breathing thing during evening events.
A former apprentice, San Francisco architect Aaron Green, gave Olgivanna Wright a metal dragon as a gift. Originally used as a fountain, the dragon was refitted with a gas line and now does its fire-breathing thing during evening events.
Photo by Jason Silverman
Wright’s first apprentices camped out in the desert in canvas shepherd’s tents, a tradition that continues today with students who come to earn a master’s degree.
Some students have created more elaborate versions of the tents, such as this recent creation, which is suspended above the desert floor.
Wright’s first apprentices camped out in the desert in canvas shepherd’s tents, a tradition that continues today with students who come to earn a master’s degree.
Some students have created more elaborate versions of the tents, such as this recent creation, which is suspended above the desert floor.
Photo by Jason Silverman
Many students built more elaborate shelters in the desert, often seeking repurposed or donated materials. This one was made on an unknown date with masonry block and metal.
Wright believed in hands-on experience to train good architects and builders. He also thought camping was a good way to understand a site’s weather patterns, flora and fauna.
Many students built more elaborate shelters in the desert, often seeking repurposed or donated materials. This one was made on an unknown date with masonry block and metal.
Wright believed in hands-on experience to train good architects and builders. He also thought camping was a good way to understand a site’s weather patterns, flora and fauna.
Photo from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The retail store at Taliesin West, built in the 1980s and shown here more recently, is the starting point for tours. It also offers Wright-designed furnishings and tableware, as well as Wright-centric books and decorative objects.
The retail store at Taliesin West, built in the 1980s and shown here more recently, is the starting point for tours. It also offers Wright-designed furnishings and tableware, as well as Wright-centric books and decorative objects.
More than 100,000 visitors come to Taliesin West annually to experience a variety of guided tours that include the main buildings, the Wrights’ living quarters and student shelters. Concerts, lectures, plays and other performances are also open to the public.
For more information, visit the Taliesin West website.
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For more information, visit the Taliesin West website.
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Cannot have enough of FLW. Mr. Wright is perpetually engaging. I was thrilled by Falling Water. I hope to see Taliesin West one day. Thanks for this thorough submission.
His aesthetic vision endures throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale, which have a cool mid-century modern vibe, because of the design of office and public buildings.
Visited here almost 15 years ago. It was so inspiring!