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Taliesin West -- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85261
480-860-2700

Much is revealed by the name of architecture-legend Frank Lloyd Wright's winter headquarters in northeast Scottsdale. Indicative of Wright's ancestral heritage, Taliesin (pronounced "Tal-ee-ESS-en") is Welsh for "shining brow," referring to the "brow" of the mesa (or in Wright's words, "the rim of the world") upon which it is built. The "West" part suggests there was another Taliesin, which there was, near Spring Green, Wisconsin. Wright (1897-1959) built it in 1909 for himself and mistress Margaret Cheney, for whom he left a wife and six children. The original Taliesin was struck by tragedy in 1914 when a newly hired chef set it aflame and murdered Cheney, several of her children and a few other guests. Wright rebuilt Taliesin, and, as his fame grew, established an architectural school there in 1932. Five years later, he purchased 800 acres in Arizona from the U.S. government and, with the help of apprentices, built Taliesin West as a winter refuge.
As envisioned by Wright, Taliesin West was not only in the desert, but of it. "Our new desert camp," he said, "belonged to the Arizona desert as though it had stood there during creation." To view Taliesin West from a distance is to note how nearly flush it stands with the desert floor. Furthermore, Wright employed techniques such as "desert masonry" -- stones from the area heaped inside wooden frames into which concrete was poured -- to create rock walls reflective of the surrounding topography. He also utilized other at-the-time unorthodox materials such as textiles and plastics, and left boulders with Indian petroglyphs visible on the grounds. The result was an organically designed complex with a pinwheel-like configuration; many of the structures have 45- and 90-degree corners correlating to the sharp, natural angles of the encircling mountains. Wright used gardens and a pool to fill the awkward exterior spaces that his buildings' wedge-like edges created; for the interiors, angled ceilings convey a sense of spaciousness.

Still a working community of student architects with approximately 70 residents, and the international headquarters for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Taliesin West consists of residential spaces, a shop, theaters (for both film and performing arts) and Wright's former architectural studio and drafting room. The centerpiece of the development is the Garden Room, once part of the Wrights' private living quarters. Wright himself named it for the adjacent garden visible through expansive windows on the east wall. Fifty-six feet in length with a sloping, translucent ceiling, the room's width varies at points by up to ten feet. But the real glory of Taliesin West may be the stunning desert views that steal upon you from innumerable vantage points throughout. To be "of the desert" is to acknowledge its presence visually, architecturally and, as those who visit can attest to, spiritually as well.

In order to visit Taliesin West, you must have a guide; many different tours are offered to satisfy any and all interests.

Features
• Historical Pick
• Kid-friendly
• Group-friendly

Hours
• Several tours available; call for seasonal hours

Price Info
• Varies; call for information

Accepted Payment
• American Express
• Cash
• Debit Card
• Discover
• MasterCard
• Visa

Cross Street
• Cactus Road

Parking
• Free, but limited

ATM Info
None on premises

Official Web Site

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	ARIZONA RESOURCES: AREA ATTRACTIONS: Phoenix Attractions and More
	Taliesin West -- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85261 480-860-2700 Much is revealed by the name of architecture-legend Frank Lloyd Wright's winter headquarters in northeast Scottsdale. Indicative of Wright's ancestral heritage, Taliesin (pronounced "Tal-ee-ESS-en") is Welsh for "shining brow," referring to the "brow" of the mesa (or in Wright's words, "the rim of the world") upon which it is built. The "West" part suggests there was another Taliesin, which there was, near Spring Green, Wisconsin. Wright (1897-1959) built it in 1909 for himself and mistress Margaret Cheney, for whom he left a wife and six children. The original Taliesin was struck by tragedy in 1914 when a newly hired chef set it aflame and murdered Cheney, several of her children and a few other guests. Wright rebuilt Taliesin, and, as his fame grew, established an architectural school there in 1932. Five years later, he purchased 800 acres in Arizona from the U.S. government and, with the help of apprentices, built Taliesin West as a winter refuge. As envisioned by Wright, Taliesin West was not only in the desert, but of it. "Our new desert camp," he said, "belonged to the Arizona desert as though it had stood there during creation." To view Taliesin West from a distance is to note how nearly flush it stands with the desert floor. Furthermore, Wright employed techniques such as "desert masonry" -- stones from the area heaped inside wooden frames into which concrete was poured -- to create rock walls reflective of the surrounding topography. He also utilized other at-the-time unorthodox materials such as textiles and plastics, and left boulders with Indian petroglyphs visible on the grounds. The result was an organically designed complex with a pinwheel-like configuration; many of the structures have 45- and 90-degree corners correlating to the sharp, natural angles of the encircling mountains. Wright used gardens and a pool to fill the awkward exterior spaces that his buildings' wedge-like edges created; for the interiors, angled ceilings convey a sense of spaciousness. Still a working community of student architects with approximately 70 residents, and the international headquarters for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Taliesin West consists of residential spaces, a shop, theaters (for both film and performing arts) and Wright's former architectural studio and drafting room. The centerpiece of the development is the Garden Room, once part of the Wrights' private living quarters. Wright himself named it for the adjacent garden visible through expansive windows on the east wall. Fifty-six feet in length with a sloping, translucent ceiling, the room's width varies at points by up to ten feet. But the real glory of Taliesin West may be the stunning desert views that steal upon you from innumerable vantage points throughout. To be "of the desert" is to acknowledge its presence visually, architecturally and, as those who visit can attest to, spiritually as well. In order to visit Taliesin West, you must have a guide; many different tours are offered to satisfy any and all interests. Features • Historical Pick • Kid-friendly • Group-friendly Hours • Several tours available; call for seasonal hours Price Info • Varies; call for information Accepted Payment • American Express • Cash • Debit Card • Discover • MasterCard • Visa Cross Street • Cactus Road Parking • Free, but limited ATM Info None on premises Official Web Site BACK