The Walls of This Arizona Desert Workshop Are Tilted at 15 Degrees to Match the McDowell Mountains

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, Arizona

The desert has a way of breaking rules, and nobody knew that better than Frank Lloyd Wright. Right where the McDowell Mountains meet the Sonoran Desert sits Taliesin West. Aka architecture’s greatest love letter to the American Southwest.

Wright Bought the Land for a Bargain

In 1937, Frank Lloyd Wright bought this vast piece of desert for only $3.50 per acre. At the time, the land had no electricity and water and sat twenty miles from the nearest town. While others saw a worthless desert, he kept researching near a temporary camp at La Hacienda.

Wright paid $2,170 for the entire property (about $40,000 in today’s money). The remote location that seemed worthless to most people became the site of one of Arizona’s most important buildings.

Built Using Rocks and Sand From the Desert

Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentices constructed the initial structures at Taliesin West between 1938 and 1941. The students gathered rocks from the desert mixed with concrete (desert masonry) and moved materials in wheelbarrows.

The first structure built was the “Sun Trap,” serving as temporary accommodation for Wright and his wife, Olgivanna. This hands-on experience taught them about building techniques and desert architecture in a way that books never could.

The Walls Are Deliberately Tilted at 15 Degrees

Many walls at Taliesin West are “battered,” or tilted at a 15-degree angle, aligning with the slopes of the McDowell Mountains nearby. The complex incorporates the 30-60-90 triangle in its design, influencing roof angles and decorative elements.

Back in the day, the slanted walls made of overlapping canvas panels, allowed filtered sunlight to enter while providing shade (later replaced by modern panels). The rugged texture of the walls also features local rocks embedded with their flat sides facing outward.

The Original Roofing Was Made from Canvas

Wright first covered many spaces at Taliesin West with special canvas for shielding instead of regular roofing for a tent-like aesthetic. By the 1960s, fiberglass and acrylic replaced the structure.

You can still see designs inspired by the original canvas in some areas, like the canvas roofing in the drafting studio. The Music Pavilion’s interior canvas ceiling was restored with high-quality Sunbrella fabric, maintaining Wright’s intended aesthetic for a desert camp.

Desert Masonry with Hand-Placed Stones

The walls of Taliesin West contain rocks from the nearby desert wash that were placed by hand at specific angles, creating walls that seem to change color as the sun moves. Wright called this building method “desert masonry.”

The concrete mix used in desert masonry was a dry pack consisting of one part Portland cement and four parts coarse sand, giving the walls their distinct red tone.

Natural Light Shaped Taliesin’s Design

The buildings capture desert sunlight in clever ways through carefully placed clerestory windows and translucent roof panels. Wright positioned the buildings at a 15-degree angle to get the best morning light and helped with passive heating systems.

The skylight frames created light patterns across the walls throughout the day. Taliesin West was positioned to frame views of Black Mountain and Granite Reef Mountain.

Taliesin Has Ancient Petroglyphs

The grounds of Taliesin West feature petroglyphs created by the Hohokam people, discovered during construction in 1939. One prominent petroglyph at Taliesin West depicts a “whirling arrow,” symbolizing friendship and fellowship.

Wright made these carvings part of his design by creating special viewing areas or boulders around them. He saw these ancient artworks as important links to the area’s history and let them influence how he planned the buildings and pathways.

Buildings Stay Cool Without ACs

Before air conditioning existed, Wright used several smart techniques to keep Taliesin West comfortable even in 110-degree heat. Thick walls (ranging from 12-18 inches) keep the heat out, while carefully placed doors and windows let in cooling breezes that match the desert wind patterns.

Some rooms built underground stay around 70 degrees all year. Large roof overhangs block the summer sun, and a shallow pool adds moisture to the dry air. These simple cooling methods worked so well that they’re still studied by architects today.

There’s a Custom-Built Well

A deep well, reaching down 486 feet, unexpectedly tapped into an aquifer that now feeds Taliesin West. Wright’s team built the well in 1938, drawing water from a subterranean river system.

Having this water supply made it possible to create gardens and landscape features throughout the property, including the triangle pool and several fountains amidst the Sonoran desert climate.

Indoor-Outdoor Fusion

Wright minimized interior partitions to create expansive, open living areas. He created “garden rooms” that make you feel like you’re both inside and outside at once.

In 2021, the Garden Room underwent restoration, soon after featuring a vaulted ceiling brushed in earth tones. Tall windows now frame views of the McDowell Mountains and desert plants.

Wright’s original design from the 1950s includes the banco seating and upholstery inspired by his era’s color palette.

The Views Are Shaped By Seasons

Wright chose this location to capture the best views of the McDowell Mountains extending up to 14 miles away.

The buildings are tilted off direct compass points to optimize sunlight and unveil dynamic views of marigolds and California poppies in spring, while the late bloomers enrich the landscape with purple hues.

The Sun Deck, situated above the Kitchen and Dining Room, offers expansive views of the Valley and Camelback Mountain.