Taliesin West – Scottdale, AZ.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Firstly, a little primer on Frank Lloyd Wright. Born in Oak Park, Illinois on June 8th, 1867. A completely self taught architect. Lover of sports cars, fiercely independent, critical thinker, hilariously arrogant and giant ego. Playboy & yo-yo champ. The man was awesome.

Taliesin in Wisconsin

After a few reoccurring bouts with pneumonia in the harsh winters of Wisconsin, his doctor asked him to no longer spend his winters at his studio and home then nicknamed, “Taliesin“. Later to be nicknamed Taliesin East. He decided to look for land in warmer climate.

Having already spent a few weeks in Scottsdale for a commission on a hotel in 1939 when Scottsdale had a mere 250 residents. He bought roughly 120 acres for $4.00 an acre 12 miles north of Scottsdale. When word was heard that he expressed interest in buying land there, prices shot up to $16.00 an acre. He came away with roughly 640 acres.

Ol’ Franky had 3 wives and a mistress or so. Allegedly, the mistress was the wife of a client. His last wife, Olgivanna Milanov was the one who inspired him to invite young people out to his house and watch him work. He said he disliked young people, She responded he could use their young vigor as manpower for his projects around the compound. That decision set the course for what we have today.

His welsh mother is to credit for the “Taliesin” name, literally meaning “Gleaming Brow,” Therefore, Taliesin West was built at the “brow” of the hill, about a 1/3 of the way up the hillside, because Frank Lloyd Wright thought that if a house is built up on the top of the hill, the hill is lost forever, no longer blending into its natural surroundings and sense of organic intermingling with its environment.

Meeting Room for Clients

First thing I noticed when I started taking in the look and feel of the architecture was the feeling of modern Japanese pagoda’s out in the Arizona desert.

Frank Lloyd Wright never being a wealthy man, always spending more than he made, but being a creative genius, used as cheap of materials as he could find. Using the rocks and stones on his own land and eager youngsters to work them.

First thing to take note is the roof. They’re detachable pieces of canvas. In fact, the entire compound, except for a few key buildings (storage and such) can be broken down and “given back to the desert” as it was every spring when Frank Lloyd Wright was in his heyday in the 40s through the 50s. No night watchman was ever hired. It was literally abandoned every spring.

There were no glass in the windows until his wife finally pleaded enough for him to change his mind. He thought glass was expensive, and it removed you from the elements. She didn’t want sand in her sandwich.

Secondly, all the doorways are unnaturally small and awkward. He was using a theory called, “compression / expansion.” According to him, one should not linger in doorways and hallways, so you should be compressed in these spaces and open up to something grandiose. Which he did every time in every building and room.

The Grand Room

Lastly, abstract triangles forms are definitely a reoccurring theme throughout the architecture and interior design. Back in 1939, this was one of the first applications of a contemporary “living room / den” Some people may say this room has a timeless quality to it. I think it looks more like 1970s to me, but it could be the yellow shag carpeting.

Stage View of the Auditorium

Every apprentice studying at the school was expected to be practiced in the arts and be a well-rounded artist. Concerts, plays, and formal dining events occurred often at the compound and encouraged the students to delve into more than just architecture. In keeping with the theme of the buildings being able to be easily broken down, the seats were just cushions laying on a bed of cement.

Theater Seats

Movie Theater

This movie theater was the first documented interpretation of track lighting to show patrons to their seats. It was a hexagonal room in order to not have any right angles which would dampen the acoustics of the room.

His Bedroom

Frank Lloyd Wright was such a consummate designer he even devised a system for his sleeping priority. If he were sleeping on the right hand side of the bed, he would be napping and be able to be disturbed, if he were sleeping on the left, he would wish to remain undisturbed.

His Bathroom

This bathroom is the first documented application of stainless aluminum used in bathrooms. It was selected for its modern aesthetic appeal, and is definitely what is being used nowadays, way back in 1939.

Sculpture Garden

Always being the staunch independent, he decided to not have ugly power lines constructed out to his compound, instead he had generators on site and even struck water at 400 feet deep. He achieved what most creative types would ever want. A self-sustainable art colony. I have been forever changed by the notion that this was once possible, and achieved by one man’s will.