I traveled to Scottsdale, AZ on business in April and managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and school Taliesin West.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s harmonious aesthetic has had an impact on my work as a designer. I have made several trips to be closer to Frank and to see his masterpieces. Taliesin West provided me with my most intimate experience to date.

entrance sign

our guide

fountain at entrance to the house

gold awnings

exterior of gift store

exterior rear

front

reflection pool

I was able to photograph all but the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture interior. We were invited and encouraged to explore and sit on things. Nothing was off limits – including Frank’s sleeping quarters. It was wonderful to see how the master spent his last years in such an inspiring location.

The stories behind the man always keep me coming back for more and this tour did not disappoint. Here are a few highlights:

1. Frank thought of Taliesin West as a camp and originally decided to forgo windows in his design and rather use canvas flaps. Well this did nothing to keep the critters out, and his third wife, Olgivanna, was not so thrilled with the arrangement. Smart wife that she was, she told her husband that she had a dream (Frank put a lot of stock in dreams.) that she was looking out the window and watching a storm roll over the desert. That was impossible to do with the canvas flaps pulled down. Frank added glass to the house.
2. The Cherokee Red FLW Signature tile: This signature tile is at the entrance to Frank Lloyd wright’s studio and home. FLW would present his famous mark, a red ceramic tile with his signature, to many of the designated buildings that met his requirements – a visible sign he APPROVED the structure.
3. Frank’s sleeping quarters: Frank had two beds in his room – both were his. The one with the multicolor pillows was his napping bed. If he was on this bed, apprentices etc. were welcome to wake him if an issue arose. The other bed closer to the interior wall was his sleeping bed and he was not to be disturbed if he was there. The ONE exception is if there was a client arriving. Frank was all about getting the sale, and he had clients arriving at all hours at T.W. and he wanted to welcome them.