Taliesin West is an Architectural Treasure Taliesin West is a crude, rough looking structure built by the hands of unskilled laborers. Its walls are an unflattering gray, made of coarse mortar and big, clunky rocks. On the outside it doesn't look like much... But if you ask me, that's what makes it what it is: Awesome. Not being an architecture buff, I first took a tour at Taliesin West thinking..."okay, this could be interesting I guess". Suffice it to say, I left wishing I took the longer tour. It is perhaps the most well-known of our Scottsdale Attractions...made famous by its famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. And to really understand it, well...you just need to go see it for yourself. "I believe a house is more a home by being a work of art." - F.L.W. Taliesin West was first and foremost a camp...a winter camp that is. In fact, Wright never spent a summer here. It was an architectural experiment, ever changing...a site that followed his "learn by doing" philosophy.  The camp served as a place for Wright's apprentices to learn and master the craft of architecture and design. It also served as his winter home. Frank Lloyd Wright is famous for his "organic architecture". He focused a great deal on the relationship between buildings and their natural environment and used that as inspiration for his work. Taliesin West is a living example of this principle. It was built by Wright's apprentices using materials found around the site. The mortar was mixed from sand from the washes, and the quartzite rocks were collected from the surrounding desert floor. There are many fascinating things to learn here... Like how these 800 year-old petroglyphs ended up on the site. Hohokam petroglyphs at Taliesin West.  Or the meaning behind these sculptures (called "Gumps") that can be found all over. Taliesin West gumps.  What is most interesting to me, however, is how Frank Lloyd Wright was able to manipulate behavior by his design. Low ceilings in the main dining room force you to "sit down" while you're there. Low doorways force you to "come inside" and not linger at the door. Furniture is not so comfortable, so as a guest, you don't stay too long. There is little storage space because..."if you need to store it, then you really don't need it". I noticed a lot of geometric shapes and strong lines. Initially to me it seemed a bit jarring, but I learned that he used these shapes to mimic the desert around him. After all, the desert can be one of the most rugged and harsh environments on Earth!  The most dominant shape at Taliesin West is the triangle. Wright felt it looked like everything in the desert...even the mountain it rests on. You'll notice new triangles everywhere you turn. How many triangles can you spot on this page?   Frank Lloyd Wright also liked his structures to resemble boats. Here you can see a very deliberately designed walkway, as it juts out towards the valley. Wright considered this walkway the "prow" of the boat...as if Taliesin West were sailing over the vast see of the desert. Can you spot
Camelback Mountain
in the distance?  When you visit Taliesin West, make sure to stop in the "Cabaret". It is here where I went from piqued interest to all out awe of this place. Doorway to the Cabaret.  The Cabaret was used as a theater and a space for people to be entertained...to enjoy food, song, dance and music all in one place. Frank Lloyd Wright intentionally designed it to maximize acoustics. So the Cabaret was built with no right angles, no parallel walls...In fact, it was formed in the shape of a hexagon. Hallway walking into the Cabaret.  There were no smooth, hard surfaces, so there was no echo. As soon as you walk in, you notice the unique seating arrangements. I, of course, questioned it when I first saw it, but then quickly learned it was deliberate and why it was the way it was. What a genius. It is here where Wright tested one of his inventions...floor lights. He preferred them over an usher's flashlight, which was harsh and distracting. Floor lights inside the Cabaret.  Yet the sound resonating qualities of this room are what get me the most. It is unbelievable, in fact. I had no idea such a thing could occur with sound waves and structures. When you go, I hope you get to experience "the music box illustration". It is. So. Awesome. Make sure to ask your guide to show you. Which brings me to a good point... Taliesin West is currently a fully functioning school. That means that in order to see the site, you must do so on a guided tour. At first when I heard that, I felt a little discouraged. After all, I wasn't sure how long I wanted to spend there! But after taking a tour (my guide was Chris and he was hilarious), I was so happy I did. I never would've enjoyed it or appreciated it as much if I walked it on my own. The tour I took was the Panoramic Tour. It lasted one hour. Want my advice? Take the longer tour. There's too much to see and to fit into one hour...and you'll want to see it all. Check out all of the available tours here. How F.L.W. Ended Up In ScottsdaleThough Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most well-known architects of our time, between 1924 - 1934 he was considered a "has-been". No one wanted to hire him. Hard to believe considering at the time of his death, he had more than 100 projects on the table! My how things change. Though this period may seem like a low one for F.L.W., it is the most important one for Scottsdale and Phoenix. For it is during this "downtime" that Frank Lloyd Wright consulted on the
Arizona Biltmore Hotel
project. The Biltmore Hotel is still the largest and most well-known hotel in the valley. It has been visited by every U.S. President except for Hoover. Most people know F.L.W. as a resident of Chicago. But in the winter of 1933, he was stricken with pneumonia and on doctor's orders, he set out for a drier climate. Thus, Scottsdale became his new winter home. Ever since that time, Frank Lloyd Wright's influence throughout the valley has been tremendous. You can see evidence of his influence almost anywhere you go...from the "sprites" you will find in private backyards, to the bright blue spire at the Scottsdale Promenade. Simply put: We just wouldn't be the same community without him. Taking a tour at Taliesin West, not only allows you to learn about its history and design, but also to learn about the designer himself. Frank Lloyd Wright had a very strong personality, a very colorful life, and much of it is expressed through the many details you will find here. Like his love for music, cars and the color red... Inside the performing arts theater.  You don't even need to be a Frank Lloyd Wright fan or know his work to appreciate this place. If you'd like to find out more about Taliesin West, you can visit the website at www.franklloydwright.org Return from Taliesin West to Scottsdale Attractions
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