Correct!
The Guggenheim Museum in NYC!
You can tell by the photo and the vehicles in it, that this place has been around for a while.
You will all need to put your Thinking Caps on and remember back a few years to a Post from Mason City, Iowa (Archives: April 2021) that had to do with Frank Lloyd Wright. Now I know that all of you have heard of this famous architect, and I am sure that most of you would be able to identify his most iconic designs, further, I hope that some of you will bear with me here and learn a little more about one of his favorite places on the planet and luckily for us, it is right here in the Phoenix area.
A little background is in order here, a perspective if you will, for understanding FLW only comes with knowing about his passion for his craft and the tenets that he prescribed to when putting pencil to paper, ultimately arriving at an incredible apex of a design that was at the same time unique, and/but totally identifiable as one of his.
One of our side trips while we are out here brought to Taliesin West. (pronounced Tally-es-inn) Taliesin (East) is FLW’s home/studio in Wisconsin where he resided in the early to mid-1900’s. Taliesin West was conceived in 1927 when FLW was out here working as a consultant on the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in the then sleepy (but rapidly developing) town of Phoenix. FLW had started a ‘school’ of sorts for budding architects. He called it the ‘Fellowship’ and these architects stayed with FLW both up in Wisconsin and then later down in Phoenix where thy all aided in the design and construction of a camp which eventually became Taliesin West. For obvious reasons, wintering in this area was far more preferable than in Wisconsin and summering up there was obviously the reverse. FLW originally set up Taliesin as the aforementioned ‘camp’ which meant that his designs and buildings were meant to be ‘struck’ during the summer when they went back North. Hence the original roofs were made of canvas, which he liked and there were no windows per se, as no glass was incorporated in the original designs. FLW loved the way that the natural light came down through the canvas and provided a slightly tinted, diffused lighting source for the workspaces occupied by himself and his ‘Fellowship’.
We need to know and just basically understand FLW’s Four Principles of Architecture, no worries, they are simple in both concept and incorporation….
The Destruction of the Box – Open Concept (wouldn’t Chip, Joanna, and the Property Brother’s be pleased!)
The Nature of the Site – fully integrate the building with its surroundings as not to ‘compete’ with said placement.
The Nature of the Materials – if possible, use the building materials that present themselves from the site. In addition, this rock, timber, wood, stone, concrete, etc. should be used honestly, revealing their inherent qualities rather than being disguised, creating a sense of authenticity and connection to nature.
Designing for Democracy – FLW believed everyone deserved beautiful living environments, aiming to provide affordable, well-designed homes that offered shelter and a higher quality of life.
The time spent here at Taliesin West was a highly social affair, tea was served daily for everyone as they gathered together in one of the dedicated areas/’rooms’ and as the ‘Fellowship’ grew in numbers, the areas used for meetings, lectures, and even movie nights, grew in proportion to those new needs. But…… each one was carefully designed with both purpose and aesthetic design in mind.
I’m going to end the ‘Lecture’ here and move on to some photos that will hopefully illustrate some of his design parameters and techniques. As much as I am a fan and admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, to be honest, if it weren’t for the Guided Audio Tour, I would have missed out on a lot of translating his designs into obvious observations. Luckily while we were there we picked up from the Bookstore, a very comprehensive guide to all of his projects around both the USA and the World, so in about, say, another thirty years or so, I should be a Master FLW World Guide.
Operators are standing by so please start booking your FLW Tours with me ASAP as I am quite sure that they will fill up quickly!
More in a minute. (See next one)
Remember one of FLW’s Four Principles about borrowing from the Site itself?
You can check that box off!
The light-colored roof panels are the canvas pieces (now under glass) that provided that diffused light to work by. If you stand at the Prow (the pointed spot bottom right) you would be looking out over a huge expanse of desert landscape (photo later on)
The repetitious long designs (also on the rest of the buildings) emulate the long chutes and crevasses of the mountains behind Taliesin West.
Note canvas diffusors on the ceiling and the classic Frank designs obvious even under the desk!
Keep noticing the Quartzite used throughout.
Please note the shape of the shadows cast on the rock wall in the foreground. This was intentional. Instead of using a straight piece of wood, FLW incorporated a ‘Dental’ design which then cast its shadow in this manner. No design detail was spared! It is used all around the building.
Keep noticing that not a space/wall/ceiling/support was wasted. Every part contributed to the ‘flow’ of every aspect of the building.
The vase seen here was placed in a specific spot for all the right reasons. When glass was added, the theory of that original placement was adhered to and the glass was cut out in order to keep that placement original.
Maybe a little extreme…. but you have to love the dedication to concept!
It emulates all of the characteristics of a Kiva, basically underground, smallish exterior light sources and a ‘circular’ cohesive (gathering) design.
It was used for gatherings of the “Fellowship” and also as a summer storage area for all of the canvases, etc. that needed to be stored when they all went back north to Wisconsin.
Drafting tables abound, canvased ceilings above, and great productivity and community below
The room is narrower at the bottom so that a speaker’s voice naturally amplifies as it moves towards the rear.
This signifies the End of this Presentation. I hope that you enjoyed seeing some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s visionary concepts and designs. There are examples of his work strewn all about the United States and many are open to the public. I would obviously encourage you to seek these places out to learn a bit more about my favorite Architect.
(And you will be better prepared for the Quiz at the end of the semester!)
One reply on “Frank Lloyd Wright and his Taliesin Talisman”
I have been to FLW’s buildings in Kansas, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, NY. I love them all. Each is unique and deserves a visit. Loved reading about the one in Arizona.