One of my main draws to Phoenix was Taliesin West. A Frank Lloyd Wright home and school in Scottsdale, celebrating 75 years.
I first became interested in Wright in high school. While studying architecture in I took trips to the houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright and saw some movies about him. I also had a friend, who's father was an architect and his style imitated Wright.
One of the first sights on the tour was some petroglyphs. This one at the entrance includes the squared spiral that Wright came to use as a symbol of Taliesin West.
The front fountain and front yard also acted as a fire break. It also offered a little green separating the house from the surrounding desert.
The campus Bell Tower over the kitchen, that acted as the dinner bell.
Fire breathing dragon, that was originally a gift to be part of the fountain. Mrs. Wright did not think any self respecting dragon should spit water so she had it connected to propane.
I am disappoint that I did not get any pictures of the three theaters on the property. My favorite being the cabaret theater. A well designed cave to be used as a dinner theater. The acoustics were the best part. The lack of right angles and the sounding board under the stage made it so any whisper from the stage could be heard everywhere in the theater.
I first became interested in Wright in high school. While studying architecture in I took trips to the houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright and saw some movies about him. I also had a friend, who's father was an architect and his style imitated Wright.
One of the first sights on the tour was some petroglyphs. This one at the entrance includes the squared spiral that Wright came to use as a symbol of Taliesin West.
Each area of the house had these Chinese theater scenes in the spaces that divided them. The story goes that Wright bought them in pieces and his students erected them.
The front fountain and front yard also acted as a fire break. It also offered a little green separating the house from the surrounding desert.
The campus Bell Tower over the kitchen, that acted as the dinner bell.
Fire breathing dragon, that was originally a gift to be part of the fountain. Mrs. Wright did not think any self respecting dragon should spit water so she had it connected to propane.
One of my favorite little things about the house was the use of irregular pentagon doors. Only Wright would be so bold as to think that he could improve upon doors.
I am disappoint that I did not get any pictures of the three theaters on the property. My favorite being the cabaret theater. A well designed cave to be used as a dinner theater. The acoustics were the best part. The lack of right angles and the sounding board under the stage made it so any whisper from the stage could be heard everywhere in the theater.
-James
No comments:
Post a Comment