Taliesin West
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23 Reviews for Taliesin West
The tour was great and informative. I loved imagining what life must have been like with so much creativity flowing.
My only issue is having to take the tour with a bunch of half wits who can't listen and are bent on doing the very things the facility has asked them not to do. What the hell is wrong with people?
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Frank Lloyd Wright lived an interesting life, it seems, and many of his architectural designs reflect that. This was Wright's seasonal home, where he could escape the harsh winters of the Midwest.
We took the late morning tour. Their tour guides range in experience and...frankly, skill. The one we got was a little bit nervous (it was only her second tour) and her presentations came across as rehearsed. That was okay, though, as she had a pleasant attitude and a genuine passion for Wright's work (which came out in conversation, not her presentation). Overall, the tour was still incredibly informative. Organic Architecture, Deconstructing the Box, Building for Democracy. Fantastic.
I wish I had time to take the twilight tour, as Taliesin West is lit up at night. I imagine a dramatic scene next to the moonlit desert landscape. Go check it out if you enjoy design and especially if you're a fan of Wright.
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We just returned from the 4th of July Red, Wright, and Blue event. Not sure if publicly advertised as we received a card in the mail since we have a membership. This particular event was $60 a ticket. That bought a tour, food, 2 drinks, music, and seating for the fireworks.
I'm not quite sure what the tour was supposed to entail as we got quite the thunderstorm, and all the guides were improvising to keep people indoors as much as possible. I believe it was a modified Insights tour. Our tour guide actually looked nervous, as if she wasn't sure the roof would not cave in! The rain offered a very different perspective. We know the living room leaks:) It was quite spectacular actually. Food and entertainment was indoors. As we understand, this was not the case last year, and it was supposedly pretty dang hot. The food was a light meal (appetizer, barbecue sliders, and dessert). The rain cleared in time for the fireworks around the Valley and dropped the temperature considerably making for a beautiful evening. You can actually watch several shows at once. Although the fireworks are all at a distance, it is quite amazing to see several shows simultaneously against the city lights, and in our case, intermingled with lightning. Awesome. I wish the entertainment had moved outdoors, however, to drown out the loud-mouthed, know-it-all next to us. Can't have everything I guess.
Every tour we have taken has been informative. We have enjoyed all of the guides, and each offers little tidbits of info on Wright's work, his life, and his personality that you won't have heard before. When we purchased a membership, tours were only available May through September, I believe. Now, they have a wider variety of tours available year-round. I would HIGHLY recommend tours in the cooler weather as some of the living areas are not cooled, and even the ones that are cooled are still quite warm.
Check out their website www.franklloydwright.org for details, prices, etc. Great place to take architectural buffs or HGTV fans.
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I've been thinking about checking out Taliesin West for years, but I never made a point to driving out that far just to see a house. Thanks to my friend Brian coming into town, I finally decided it was time.
We did the Insight tour which took us into Frank Lloyd Wright's office, living room, bedroom and various theaters. It was a great tour and our guide, Betty was very knowledgeable on all things Wright. She invited questions and never hesitated with the answers. On the tour we even had the opportunity to sit in the furniture that FLW designed and made. It's awesome because the site is not considered a museum, so we were able to take pictures and touch everything.
The foundation offers a variety of tours, so I will definitely be back to check out some of the other ones.
The only downside is that the tours are a little pricey, but not outlandish considering the amount of information and access you get. Our tour was about $30 and took 90 minutes. The longer tours cost more, but based on this one, I think it was well worth it.
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As a fan of architecture, Wright has always been one of my idols. This is brilliant work with a SouthWestern flair.
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I was visiting Scottsdale for a long weekend and decided to take in Taliesin West. I am not a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, but I did enjoy a past visit to Fallingwater, so I decided to check this place out. A lot of people feel that Mr. Wright was a genius, I just think he had a strong and different point of view. And liked to go a little crazy with it. I'm not overly impressed with his style, but I do enjoy a chance for a little voyeurism, and to me, that's what this is. And while I did enjoy my visit, this property is not as beautiful or impressive as Fallingwater, which is spectacular.
I did take the 90 minute insights tour which the web sites proclaims to be "our most popular tour". It's just more popular because it's offered every 30 minutes. The new price for 2008 is $32, which I think is over inflated. Our tour guide was a nice enough guy, but I didn't really appreciate his little side stories in which he liked to tell tales about the man's integrity or hinted (not so subtly) about the lack of it. If we want to know more about Mr. Wright personally, let us all read fact filled books, not hear myths from the Valley. I was here to see his impressive work not to hear him insulted. There was so much more to this man than these little tales could tell. I urge everyone to read about the man's life and career. You will be fascinated.
The bookstore/foundation store is full of books about the architect and his works. I found it to be very interesting and wished I would have had more time to spend there.
Taliesin West was a crude escape from the harsh Midwest winters. That's what it is and that's what it looks like. I did find it to be a fascinating step back in time.
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Great tour experience, especially if you are an architecture and/or F.Lloyd Wright fan. I took the 90 minute tour and learned tons. My only wish was that I was not leaving Phoenix that same day, in which case, I may have taken a longer tour. Incredible experience for art, architecture and/or design buffs. BTW, if you can get Tom as your tour guide, you're in for a treat (he's really knowledgeable).
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I took the 10:15 Panorama tour one perfect Saturday morning while in Scottsdale one week on a business trip. It had been recommended by a friend who was into architecture, and although my only interest in it to this point has been the typical visual appeal it casually affords, this tour was paced with balance and equally insightful.
Ok ... maybe that sounded too much like a book report. All that being true, I should emphasize that I only took the 60 minute tour ($27). The other, longer, and advertised as more popular 90 minute ($32) tour was available, but I was not interested. There are, like, 5 other tours they offer in varying lengths/depths. I wanted the cliffs notes tour of this architectural genius and my tour guide (Joan, I think) was polite and very knowledgeable and never seemed in a rush - in fact, she extended our tour by at least 20-30 minutes to show us a few more sites around the grounds.
This place must be amazing to visit at night, and even more so if you're a fan/student of architecture/Wright. Cool photo opps. Not knowing much about him or his impact it was a cool way to learn about his practice, his school, and his genius, and neat way to spend a morning and get out of the hotel.
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If you at all a Frank Lloyd Wright fan you must take the time to visit Taliesin West. The place is beautiful and the 60 minute tour we took was just right. There are longer tours also available.
Being an architect, this is as close as you get to an architecture amusement park, well other than Rotterdam or Amsterdam but that is another mess of a story...
Like him or hate him he was an influential figure in the modernist architecture movement in America. You can see the Japanese influences that he took, as well as the principals he took in his architecture in this little resort. It is worth a trip for any serious or budding architect.
One thing I do not like about the tours, they way they present them they act as though Frank might be lurking in the next room, like they have all met him and are looking to meeting up with him after they knock-off for the day. Guys, he is dead, please refer to him in the past.
It would be nice to walk around the grounds unsupervised, rather than the cattle tour, but I can see why they do not let people have free reign on the place.
There is still a working school and practice (I think the practice is still operating) here.
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Architecture and Wright fans will find a trek to Taliesin West to be a true treat. The tours only operate from May thru September because the Fellowship (architecture school) winters at Taliesin West and summers at Taliesin East (Spring Green, Wisconsin) beware of the summer months as the heat will definitely distract you and you will not draw as much from the experience. Several types of tours are available including tours of the student architect tents (a Wright tradition where the students had to go build shelters in the desert on the property with a very limited amount of resources) as always you should call ahead to schedule and see what is available. I have taken numerous individuals on the tour and never walked away disappointed, different tour guides see and interpret Wright style and history in different ways thus the experience is slightly unique each time as each offers an enriching perspective. The gift shop has an excellent variety of art, books, DVDs, ties, pens, and other unique items.
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my best friends girlfriend came for a visit from austin, being an architecture major, this was a place we obviously had to go.
being there was obviously amazing... here's my beef... a tour was between $30-$80, seriously. there was no way we could afford this obnoxious fee so we walked around the house and checked out the gift shop. we were pleased with this, but pretty disappointed not to take the tour.
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Taliesin West is work/home for Frank Lloyd Wright during his winter years. He spent the other half of his year in Taliesin Wisconsin.
I took a tour at Taliesin West and as the group stood at the entrance of the building, my tears started rolling down from my eyes. I was listening to the tour guide and looking at the building details that she was describing, it reminded me of what I love and what I do in the first place. Aesthetic for everyone is different; beauty and perception is different for everyone, but the inspiration never changes.
The 2-hour length inspirational tour takes your in and out and around the entire Taliesin Complex. We went into FLW's office, part of his residency and the auditorium on campus. The school was closed and off-limit to the public at the time. But I can't imagine how cool it is to study in FLW's ground.
It is recommended to make reservations for tours; if not, at least find out about their tour hours first.
You don't have to love architecture to visit Taliesin, once you are there, you'll take a piece of Architecture with you anyway.
http://www.franklloydw...
Go and be inspired!!
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Been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright for many years. I've visited Falling water and Knob Hill (which is simply fantastic) both in Pennsylvania. Also toured his home and other locations in Chicago. I've yet to be disappointed. The guides are always extremely knowledgeable and they have great anecdotes which help to make the tours fun. My parents have recently moved down (snow birds) to Arizona and I look forward to taking the tour again in the future.
It is expensive...actually when I went last year my parent's waffled on whether to spend the money because they weren't terribly interested. In the end they decided to go and they were fascinated and glad they took the tour. It's worth it to support Taliesin and the conservation of these wonderful works of art.
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Frank Lloyd Wright is one my favorite architects. He was a futuristic visionary of his period. Even though his designs were popular after the turn of the century, today his style can still be considered contemporary in the sense of the word Modern. You can take a docent guided tour in which you are lead to his living quarters, theater, the school, the reflection pool, and landscaping. There is an apprenticeship training by the architects of the Taliesin Fellowship as well as professionals in the field. As you are guided through the home, you'll hear how tragedy struck his family.
This is a must see if you are traveling to Phoenix.
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Got a chance to check this place out and as a fan of architecture and design it was a fun trip. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that you can't just wander around. It's understandable why, since there is a school there with students and such.
The docent on our tour (or guide?) was excellent and I guess I signed up for the 90 minute tour. Not sure what the other tours are like, but I was very happy with it. The price is reasonable and to help support Taliesin it's totally worth it.
Lots of good insights and a gem out in the desert.
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This is a school, retreat, public archive, and tourist spot.
There are several different tours available. I took the 90 minute version which includes Mr Wright's office, the terrace next to the design center, his living room, bedroom, wife's bedroom, garden terrace, windowless room, theater, and cabaret.
It's all very interesting though I suspect a lot of the tour guides punchlines are apocryphal. Her reverence was clear but she still pointed out failures and redos as a way to humanize the icon.
1 star off for excessive price $22.50 for 90 minute tour. You can't wander off on your own except in the expansive and expensive gift shop.
The Saturday shelter tour looks like the most interesting
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Ahh, one of my favorite Arizona museums - and a must-do when tourists ask me where to go. And a DEFINITE must for art, history or architecture buffs. While it is rather expensive -- upward of the $20 figure charged by NYC museums, it is worthy enough to charge as such. Can be very crowded in Winter and Spring.
The 60 minute version is the most popular I gather, but the office staff will always try to upsell you on the 90 minute version. Whether you should go for the plunge is up to you. The main difference being that you get to see his and his wife's living room and private living quarters. Having been on both tours - it's a toss up on which to recommend.
The tour itself is given by well-informed and professional docents (one upside of the hefty admission). That in itself is almost unheard of in the museum world where they have gone mostly to audio rentals.
Stunning views of Scottsdale and a nice piece of Sonoran foothill landscape to be had here.
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Visiting Taliesin West played a big part in my decision to come to AZ on vacation. I have been to several of his homes this year and it seemed like a good way to end the year. The property and home is absolutely amazing. I've been to Fallingwater and Taliesin West is every bit as breathtaking. I took the 90 minute insights tour which takes you around the exterior and the interior highlights include the living room and FLW's bedroom. The fee is $24 but you can't put a price on being exposed to a work of art and pure uninhibited genius.
No other FLW home that I've been to allows interior photography without doing an in-depth tour but interior photography was allowed at Taliesin West. I was over the moon, like a kid in a candy store.
After a 30 minute break, my friend and I opted to do the 2 hour Apprentice Shelter Tour. It's $30 and a must for anyone into design or architecture. Taliesin West houses the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture - it has a max of 25-30 students, or apprentices as FLW would call them. An apprentice serves as the docent which is really neat because you get a student's perspective. Our apprentice was over here from China. We got to view over a dozen of the 30 or so desert shelters that apprentices have designed, built and lived in over the last several decades. We got to get up close and view the structures from tents to large glass and metal cantilevered studio homes. Apparently each apprentice who opts to build their design receives $1,000 in seed money but many try to get donations. One of the homes cost over $15K to produce. The works are very impressive. Most of the structures have just enough room for a mattress and of course each has a fireplace as an homage to FLW. It's also nice to hike through the desert. It's serene and quiet.
Don't miss Taliesin West if you're in the Scottsdale area!!
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Taliesin West is really neat! Even though I'm not an architecture buff and I know nothing about Frank Lloyd Wright (except his Falling Water house), I found my visit to be really interesting. I took the 90 minute Summer Insights tour ($20) and it was well worth the money. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and had a lot of interesting anecdotes to share. Parts of the tour are outside under the hot sun, but you do get a couple short breaks in the shade when inside the house. They also provide bottled water. I liked being able to walk into FLW's living quarters and actually sit on his furniture. I highly recommend coming to visit if you're in the Phoenix area.
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Alright you got me- FLW is one of my favorite artists- his materials are just different from most- but the influence and experience is the same! This place was named after the first he built- in WI (but its demise led to his wife's death)- fueled by this grief- led him not to rebuild on the same site-but chose this one- a sanctuary and a teaching institution for his apprentices- also to be his stepping stone to eternity.
I love the incongruities that equalizes the symmetry- its allure of Fallingwater and the furnishing he designed himself...A DEFINITE MUST!
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We did the night lights tour a few weeks ago. A perfect, casual "grown up" way to spend a Friday evening. Take the 7 o'clock tour to appreciate the quiet dramatic sunset and the soft lights of Scottsdale in the distance.
The tour itself was interesting and after 2 hours you'll find yourself wanting to learn more about FLW and perhaps plan a visit to his summer home and school in Wisconsin. If you are local and often have visitors, I suggest buying the membership for $45 which includes unlimited tours for one year.
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Take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's school/home in the desert. I recommend the night tour. I always take visitors here. Even though I have been many times, I always enjoy myself.
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