Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West

About this book

Taliesin and Taliesin West both included a residence for Wright and his family, a studio, living quarters for the apprentices of the Taliesin Fellowship, and communal rooms for dining, music, and the projection of films, but they were a study in contrasts in every other way. Taliesin was sited overlooking lush, contoured farmland, whereas Taliesin West was incorporated into the rugged, arid desert. Taliesin evoked protection with deep, hovering roofs, while Taliesin West seemed ephemeral with only translucent canvas overhead. The stimulation of these contrasts inspired and sustained Wright until his death in 1959. Today both sites are still in operation, housing the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and Taliesin Architects. Both properties are National Historic Landmarks and are open for public tours. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West provides a lavishly illustrated introduction to the architecture, interiors, art collection, gardens, decorative arts, furniture, and graphic design of these two studio-residences. Chapter introductions discuss Wright's life and the evolution of the two properties, which he designed and redesigned over the course of many decades. Then each building is illustrated, on the exterior and room by room in stunning color photographs commissioned especially for this book. Also featured are many archival photographs of Wright at work and at leisure; drawings and plans; photographs of selected pieces of furniture, art objects, and examples of graphic design; and a chapter on Oak Park Home and Studio, which preceded Taliesin as Wright's first home. A special highlight is the chapter on Wright's collection of Asian art, which was reputed at one time to be among the largest and finest in the United States, and today consists of screens, woodblock prints, sculpture, ceramics, rugs, and textiles.