LuxLivingAZ

View Original

Frank Lloyd Wright Turns 150

Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ

Nearly a month removed from his June 8th birthdate, celebrations are still on-going (deservedly so) for architectural legend, Frank Lloyd Wright. He was born in Spring Green, Wisconsin in 1867, would have turned 150 this year.

Considered by many in the industry to be the finest architect in America’s centuries-old history, Wright started his professional journey in 1887 with a Chicago apprenticeship. That forgettable apprenticeship would blossom into a career spanning the entirety of the United States.

The style that is his signature—an open building plan that effortlessly blends interior architecture with the exterior environment—is readily present in each of his more than 500 buildings, including Falling Water in Pennsylvania, the Marin Civic Center in California, and Taliesin West right here in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Located at the foot of Scottsdale's McDowell Mountain, Taliesin West was built to be both Wright’s winter home and his second architectural school.

And what a school it was. With the help of his students, Wright sketched what would become the Guggenheim Museum (New York) while teaching at Taliesin West.

Today, the property is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation which works to “inspire the world through beautiful spaces that are thoughtfully designed and experienced,” while simultaneously “preserving [both] Taliesin and Taliesin West for future generations.”

The Foundation bent over backwards to call attention to Wright’s 150th birthday. In addition to offering tours of Taliesin West for just $1.50, the Foundation also organized marquee events across the country like the five month-long Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive exhibit at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

For locals living in Scottsdale and Phoenix, the ability to visit and tour Taliesin West is just one of the many perks of living in the region.

To learn about some of the other things that make living in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area so incredible—including a strong economy, a local government that's focused on job-creation, and a hands-off approach to homeownership that's built on an unshakable belief in low-taxes—be sure to read this.