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Taliesin West
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46 reviews for Taliesin West
The short summary? I now officially love FLW and the tour I took convinced me to get a membership the next time I go back.
Two friends and I wandered here a few months ago to get our culture on. We took the 90 minute guided tour I believe. Everything was so gorgeous and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. He was able to not just preach at us with lines he'd rehearsed over and over again, but tell a story and show how this knowledge applies to life today.
We were able to take pictures during this tour which doesn't happen in a lot of museums these days and I took everything i could until my camera died.
I left feeling completely inspired and awaiting my next visit.
I have limited knowledge of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright other than Falling Waters and the Westcott House in Springfield OH (close to my home town of Yellow Springs). My Mom is in town and her friend is a fan of FLW, so I took her to Taliesin West and embarked on the tour.
This was my first experience on the tour. A large portion of it is outdoors - so it is best not to do it in the summer months. The bottle of water given does not last long given the conditions. The tour is $32 for a 90 minute tour through the grounds and some of the buildings. My tour today was actually longer than that. The tour guide, Don, gave an excellent presentation and was very knowledgeable. He provided a lot of detail and answered questions.
The gift shop is nice; maybe a little pricey, but it is Scottsdale. Going in the winter would definitely make it a 5 star event, but July/August makes it tough to completely enjoy and pay attention. If you can catch it in the late evening or fall/winter - it would be a must do!
Its FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT! RIGHT HERE!
Um. Well...what can you say...this place was built by and for a real full blown genius. Sadly, the people who came after him kinda squandered the legacy...by selling land...by failing to maintain the buildings...by treating it like a still life...that said...we have very few instances where we can see the handiwork of a genius up close and personal. For example...the genius got college kids to build a lot of the joint nearly for free...thats pretty cool huh? And the genius designed it to seem to sail on the desert like a ship on the sea...which you really could see before with no imagination...and now you need imagination as you have powerlines and houses and roads and all sorts of...progress...
Anyway. Either you really like this place or you dont. I do. Despite the failings of the mortals who followed the genius. Five Stars
I'm not going to lie - I indulged in fantasies about Howard Roark during the course of my 90-minute Insights tour. His spirit and convictions were brought to life by FLW and being in this incredible complex where he lived, worked and taught was indescribably cool. The tour takes you around the property and through many of the rooms, restored to various periods of Frank's life. I was a bit dismayed at the disrepair some of the rooms are in, so I spent money in the gift shop hoping it will go to repairing some sad looking chairs and windowpanes.
Overall, the tour guides are genius at describing and making you feel like you're seeing things through FLW's eyes with his vision on architecture and lifestyle. This is not to be missed!
I'm not a huge fan of FLW actual architecture aside from Falling Water but the man was no doubt interesting and is pretty much the most important figure in American architecture. So while my friends were still sleeping off their hangover from the night before, I decided to head up to BFE and check out Taliesin West. I was not disappointed.
The price point was bit heavy at $30 but the tour was led by an extremely informative guide and lasted about an hour and a half. I don't know much about architecture myself so it was nice to have a guide who pointed out the little architectural details that I wouldn't have noticed on my own.
The guide also did a good job of connecting how experiences in FLW's life translated into the architectural elements he incorporated in his works. I definitely had a good time.
There's not much more I can say about Taliesin West that hasn't already been said before. I'm a person who doesn't know the difference between an architect and draftsman and didn't know anything about FLW until I visited. But even I was fascinated with story and details in the guided tour. I went on the Panorama tour that lasted a little over an hour and visited the music room, the front lawn, movie room, reception area, and meeting room.
So, what makes this a 5 star review???
THE WHOLE TOUR WAS FREE!!
With the new culture pass for the library, you can check this gem out gratis!! And seeing that several reviewers mentioned the high cost of the tour ($27), it seems as if there is no better time to check it out!
When my friend and I were planning our weekend in Scottsdale, we agreed that touring Taliesin West was a must-do. She'd already been to Falling Water, but this was the first time I was going to enjoy Frank Lloyd Wright's work on such an intimate level.
I knew going in that he was ahead of his time in many ways, but I never got tired of hearing about this innovation or that throughout the guided tour. Indeed, each was more fascinating than the one before. But what impressed me the most was the feat of engineering he realized in his construction of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Apparently FLW pioneered a technique for helping buildings to withstand seismic events. Indeed, the Imperial Hotel survived a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in 1923, the same year it was completed, when many buildings surrounding it crumbled.
I highly recommend taking the time to visit Taliesin West if you're in the area. It's a beautiful site and the tour is fantastic. I loved when we took a break in one of the rooms where FLW entertained guests, and were able to sit in the origami chairs. Surprisingly, the chair, even though it looks angular, was very comfortable and ergonomic--but it also fit my small frame very well. In another room, actually his bedroom, I remember thinking the ceilings were rather low, so I finally asked the docent how tall FLW had been. She replied that he was about 5 foot seven or eight--which explained why I loved the scale of everything at Taliesin!
So, just a warning if you're tall: you may feel a little claustrophobic here. Apparently Wright once said that anything over 6 feet tall was a waste of space!
Great tour by a knowledgeable guide, we did the basic tour that tells about Wright's life and his work at Taliesin West.
He was brilliant, it was a great tour because the place is still a working school rather than a museum, so you can touch things and see up close where he lived and did his work. Much more hands on than other tours of historical people's homes I've been on.
He was brilliant; I would go back and do other tours.
After living here for so many years - I have finally taken a moment to enjoy Taliesin West - although I credit this due to friends visiting me.
I enjoyed the cronology of his work over his lifetime and learning about the many contributions of his architecture and his forward thinking. As I sit her and enjoy my newly stained concrete flooring - I have only to realize that FLW had first thought of this concept in the early 20s as seen at Taliesin West. :)
Ok bad Mary. I have lived here for almost 30 years and have never been here!!!!WHY??????? But in my defense there were no Yelp sites back then to push me into going by writing a glowing review. All I can say is drop what you are doing now and go. This place is amazing! You do not have to be a big archi lover to enjoy the wonders of this place.
(And the view aint half bad either) If you get the Culture Pass that the Phx Libraries offer you can get the basic tour for free. 4 passes at 26 dollars a pop for free can you believe it? It only costs a few more dollars to upgrade to the next tour. BARGAIN!!!!!!! You have to go on a tour you just can't go and wander around there since people live here and it is a private school. ( BTW that Culture Pass thing is a gem! I might have to write a separate review for it!) bring tons of water, walking shoes,hats, your camera, and be forewarned it is hot. A lot of the tour is outside or in hotter buildings with little air venting but hey a small price to pay to see this place of a great minded man!
PS- we did bring a small child. Although most people on here say it is not child friendly children may enjoy it if they are interested in art or old buildings. I must say they would have to be children who have been exposed to longer tours at musuems before so use caution. The tour guides love kids though so if you have an inquisitive little one bring them along. .
Informative tour that put some grit behind the glamor of Frank Lloyd Wright. I needed his innovations to be pointed out to me - I've just taken this Palm Springs style of architecture for granted. I think HG will now be more receptive to seeing significant architecture in other cities we visit.
I am a huge FLW fan. Well, I'm not huge. But man do I love his work.
Growing up in the midwest got me spoiled. If you haven't read "Devil in the White City" yet, run to your nearest bookstore and get it. Gives you an insight into Chicago that you won't get elsewhere, but I digress.
This is a must see when you're in Scottsdale. I mean, I insist. If you don't go, we will not be speaking until you do. It's not just the architecture. It's the beautiful combination of both the man made world and the awe inspiring world of nature.
This is one of my favorite places on earth. It gives me hope for some strange reason. That we still have an ability to combine two worlds into one. And that one world is amazing.
Going on a tour here was seriously one of the coolest things I've done in Arizona. In fact it's one of the coolest things I've done...ever. I've traveled to different countries and been all through the United States, but something about the history of Frank Lloyd Wright, his personal life, and the amazing feats he undertook to build Taliesen West in the Scottsdale desert (before air conditioning, before the freeway system, before extensive road system) was amazing.
I've always loved Frank Lloyd Wright. Being an art nerd and a lover of architecture, I've been drawn to his work since childhood. I took friends from California here and although they're not as nerdy as I am about the stuff, they enjoyed themselves immensely. We did one of the extensive tours which took 2 or 3 hours, but was worth every minute. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable on the intricacies of the structures, FLW's life, and random facts about the property and school.
I always recommend this place to people left and right...from people who have lived in Arizona their whole lives to those just visiting the Phoenix area. In my opinion, it's one of those "must sees" for everyone.
This is a wonderful place that makes me so happy to go here!
The only reason I have put one less star is because of the cost. always recommend people to visit, but is rather expensive for a family of four to go. Many museums or homes of art will offer one day a week or month at a discounted rate enabling people to experience this wonderful place. Otherwise seeing the lay out has been inspiring to my husband and I building our own compound.
It is not only wonderful to see it preserved so well, but to see the future of architecture going on!
I visit Phoenix pretty regularly to see family. I always make a point to bring someone new to see Taliesin West. I find that new comers to Taliesin West are always amazed at how it was made and the beauty of the architecture, it never gets old. The guides always give interesting tours and each one has new nuggets of information that I scoop up and file away for trivia later down the road. ;)
The only downside to the tour, I don't think it's well suited to young children. Most tours are approximately 90 minutes long and it's just a tour guide leading you around the compound, which doesn't hold the interest of children for very long at all. The last time I went we had to fish a child out of the pool, it was entertaining but not part of the tour!
Can I live here too????
Taliesin is AWESOME!
What happened to architecture in America? We went from visionaries like FLW to mass produced mega-neighborhoods where every house looks the same & with any luck will stand for no more than 50 years.
Taliesin west is a great example of embracing nature into architecture.
I've been a FLW fan since the sixth grade when we went on a field trip to see his home and studio in Oak Park. My father, an architecture school dropout, was thrilled. Someone to share his love of prairie style with. Last summer I read "The Fellowship" and fueled more conversation about the man with my father. "Dad, did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright invented the carport?"
My first apartment was in Oak Park, and I must admit, part of why I lived there instead of in the city was this stupid love affair I have with FLW. It's ridiculous, I know this.
Anyway....today I'm sitting here writing reviews and I see Taliesin West on Yelp and I yell out, "OH MY GOD!!! Taliesin West is here!!! I can't believe I forgot that!" So our plans changed from climbing Camel back to going to TW.
If you're a fan you must go. Because it's Taliesin West. nuf said.
However, I must warn you:
1. Way overpriced. Waaaaaay overpriced. The lowest priced tour is 60 minutes and costs 27.00. No teacher discounts.
2. FLW was always in money trouble and apparently the place is too. I don't know what they do with all that cash they charge their students and tourists but it doesn't go toward cleaning the place. I saw dead flies on window sills, cobwebs in skylights, and some of the carpeting looked original. Original and not well cared for.
3. The living room lighting is crazy. There are some upright lamps in there that look like they were bought at Walmart. Unforgivable. Seriously, you have people studying architecture there, can't you give them an assignment to design some better light fixtures to supplement the original stuff if it's not adequate?
4. OVERPRICED!! I appreciate direct instruction, I do. But in this age if you're going to charge that much for a tour and then use badly reproduced and laminated xerox images in a binder that you walk around in front of your audience as your visual aids I'm just, what? A binder? Seriously?
5. Insufficient parking. We parked in front of what appears to be some offices and maybe living quarters. In front of which were plastic resin chairs and cinder blocks holding up some rocks. This is not beautiful. Do cinder blocks come from the environment? I don't think so.
6. Wilting and dying flowers in the music room at the end of the tour. Better to have no flowers at all.
All that aside, if you are a fan you know that you must see the space and you must walk through it. And since you cannot do so without giving more money than it's worth I just thought you should be warned so that you are not disappointed.
The sculpture garden is beautiful, the water features lovely and the architecture is of course genius. Enjoy!
After writing about the Heard Museum, I remembered that I had taken some photos from my Spring Training/Sightseeing /Childhood Memory Trip back to my birthplace, Phoenix. Sure enough, I had baseball pictures of Barry Bonds and Giants Stadium, downtown Scottsdale pictures, clever pictures of me in stupid cowboy hats and some of Taliesin West. (SEE PICTURES)
If you don't know about Taliesin West, you aren't alone unless you are a lover of Frank Lloyd Wright, which I have been from an early age because my Mom and Dad both went to school and graduated from Arizona State, I went to college there too at the age of 4, and Mr. Wright built the auditorium called affectionately, "the Birthday Cake" so his name was probably one of the first ones I was ever taught.
In my opinion, F.L. Wright is surely America's greatest architect, if not the world's greatest. I have a fantastic 2 hour PBS special on him that explores his life and work in great depth, it's wonderful to pull out from time to time and get re-inspired.
Taliesin was his dream home, his school and his refuge. Originally built on the side of a gently sloping mountain well outside of the quickly-growing suburbs in the heart of the Sonoran desert, Taliesin was organic, living, melded to its stone, sand and gravel surroundings due to the fact that its materials were plucked from those very locations. Its unique roofing structure could only be dreamed and conceived from the heart of genius as the lack of rainfall allowed it to be redwood and canvas, like the teepee's of the native Indian cultures.
Having been there before as a child, I really could not appreciate it to any great extent then but as an adult, I was truly amazed at its massive expanse and by the fact that it was built stone by stone by hand with the loving work of his adoring students. Their spirits and care are reflected in every pore of the breathing, flexing structures joined together in strange, illogical ways. Windy paths, odd angles, smoothed beams, brightly colored carpets and art, contrasting paints, dripping fountains, flapping textures, long-shallow reflecting pools, open-aired rooms, vaulting stairs, low-slung passageways... all conceived by the brilliant, unconventional mind of the master to ponder and entice thought by confusion of the stated norm being smashed into oblivion. Purists laugh but those with an unjaundiced eye coupled with a heart of appreciation for the existence of a new form of human living quarters that you have to force yourself to integrate your soul in order to fully exist with it. Taliesin must become a part of its occupants and visitors, like a natural extension of existence, in order to impart its magic as creativity abounds with every sense affected at each new revelation.
Lucky students pursuing careers in wood and metal work, painting, sculpture, photography and pottery are allowed to stay on the preserved desert ecosystem in small, clever, experimental structures or shelters that pop up throughout the 600 acre grounds. I got to see many of these during my visit and they were truly interesting to see. Weird while being functional, they all interested me greatly but sadly I was not allowed to get too close or to interact with any of them.
Finally, there are 2 large theatres that I saw on the tour for concerts and performances. Creativity is encouraged to flow from the spirit, soul and body; a complete immersion without judgment or criticism. Freedom for the individual and for the group-think to attempt to inspire and unconform the conformed.
It was my dream to see this wonderland again... I came, I saw, I was changed. My heart pumped stronger, then I cried a little in leaving due to my great fortune. However Taliesin is in my mind, my soul, my eyes and her smell is everpresent whenever I think of her.
So long Frank Lloyd Wright, you put your spell on me ...
http://www.youtube.com...
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This is a great place to tour if you love architecture. Having seen several other Frank Lloyd Wright homes, I must say I enjoyed this one the best because the guides were friendly and you really got a feel for the home and FLW's vision. Unlike many of his other properties, here you can sit in the furniture and move about pretty freely, giving one full access to the lines of sight which are so integral in FLW's work.
The grounds are beautiful as well. The home is tucked away and only reveals itself once you are upon it, but the views of the desert and Scottsdale are stunning.
The only drawback is the cost. At $30 per person, it can be a little steep. But, if you enjoy architecture, the trip is well worth it.
As an aside, I also enjoyed the shop and bookstore, which sold lots of unique, art and architecture inspired housewares. There is no food or beverage service here, unlike some other local museums, so plan accordingly.
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.
Can I live here please? I've loved FLW since I was in like 5th grade or something and went on a school field trip and thought that wherever we were (some FLW building in Phoenix, I rack my brain trying to remember) was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.
I've been to Taliesin West quite a few times, kinda want to go again. I think I want to live there.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!!
The reasons I am giving Taliesin West four stars are because the cost for a tour is very expensive and I could barely hear the tour guide, although she was very informative, but did not have the ability to project her voice to a group. Also, while we were in the office and the softspoken tourguide was lecturing, people in the office were taking phone calls and talking and it was very disruptive. Otherwise, I would totally give this remarkable masterpiece five stars.
I have been wanting to visit Taliesin West ever since I saw a PBS documentary on Frank Lloyd Wright a month or so ago. He had a fascinating life! He was a total egomaniac (kind of deservedly so), he married three times and had a mistress as well, and lived a very full life. He is essentially the face of American architecture.
Wright's home and outer buildings in Scottsdale is nothing short of amazing. I am a total ingenue when it comes to architecture terms so if you want real descriptions then you should read about it on the Taliesin website or in a book. However, the site Taliesin was on was really neat and overlooked beautiful Arizona landscape. On the tour, I learned about the process of building Taliesin, some aspects of the architecture school (I think it is really cool that the students get to design their own places to live), and a little about Frank Lloyd Wright and his third wife, who encouraged his architecture on the West Coast. The sculpture garden was a really amazing part of the tour, as was the underground dinner theatre. The giftshop features a wide array of tasteful souvenirs and though I really wanted an exclusive Wright-style Christmas ornament, I only bought a guide book, some postcards, and a magnet. I was satisfied with my purchases and memories of that day.
I hope that I am able to visit more of Wright's homes and buildings in the future.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 http://www.franklloydw... for details, prices, etc. Great place to take architectural buffs or HGTV fans.
When I was trying to impress my (at the time) girlfriend, I planned a sweet date and it started with a tour of Teliesin West and had such a blast. Needless to say she became my wife :) So it worked and would recommend it anyone. It did help that my wife was studying architecture :) This place is so beautiful and has such pretty views. I recommend going at the sunset tour, I believe it was, at the time, more expensive but worth it.
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.
As a fan of architecture, Wright has always been one of my idols. This is brilliant work with a SouthWestern flair.
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).
