Step inside the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s most famous architects. Learn how he bridged the gap between architecture and environment.
Visit Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert masterpiece, a sprawling complex of buildings designed to complement the landscape. The site occupies more than 600 acres (240 hectares) at the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. This was the renowned architect’s winter home from 1937 until his death in 1959. It also housed his studio and architectural campus. Today, it accommodates the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
Lloyd Wright was one of the 20th century’s greatest architects. He was known for a style that promotes harmony between buildings and the natural world. Learn how he achieved this on a guided tour of his former desert home.
Walk through the dining room, living quarters and guest deck. See how Lloyd Wright incorporated nature into the building’s design with wide-open spaces, large windows and by using desert rocks and native hardwoods.
Note the Asian influences in some of the rooms. The architect was fascinated with Asian art, so Asian sculptures and design feature throughout Taliesin West. Step into the Drafting Room where Wright and his apprentices worked. The room is still in use today.
Stop by the half-sunken Cabaret Theater and see the niche carved in the rock wall that accommodates one of Lloyd Wright’s Steinway pianos. Have a seat in the spacious Garden Room, considered a highlight of the house for its use of natural light. Most of the room’s furniture is original and was built in place. Walk in the gardens among sculptures, prickly pear, saguaro and other desert plants. Enjoy reflective moments by the pools and fountains.
Taliesin West is located in the Sonoran Desert, 26 miles (42 kilometers) northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The site is not accessible by public transportation but on-site parking is free. The complex is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. There is a fee for guided tours of the property and grounds. Join the night tour to see the fire-breathing dragon sculpture.