Architectural Models from Chisel & Mouse - now in miniature AND Frank Lloyd Wright

I recently found out some very exciting shopping news that will have many of you reaching for your wallets: One of my favorite companies, Chisel & Mouse that produces architectural models, has expanded their line to include not only miniature models but also projects by Frank Lloyd Wright!

I was surprised to arrive home last week and find a large box from sponsor Chisel & Mouse with 4 samples of their delightful and now miniature models.  All four are of well known Frank Lloyd Wright projects here within the United States.

The first I'm showing here in 4 different locations throughout my apartment is the V.C. Morris Gift Shop in San Francisco (that I'm very excited to be able to visit while on vacation in California next week!). Expanding on their idea now that many of their models can be wall mounted (as shown above) all of these include a discrete hanging spot on the back for easy display.

The wide base also allows them to sit on a mantel, bookshelf, nestled in a tablescape, desktop, or wherever you choose.

 I think their best seller will probably be this highly detailed model of the NYC Guggenheim Museum.

One of the most impressive projects by Frank Lloyd Wright is his Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL which I visited while in college.  Here you see it resting on my bookshelf where all 4 models have ended up -an impressive collection.

I think these miniature models make the perfect host /hostess gift and just in time for summer houseguest season!  Check out these and other models on their website: Chisel & Mouse. Tell them Architect Design sent you and receive a 10% discount with code "arcdesign"

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

A few weeks ago while in Arizona I visited Taliesin West, arguably the most well known site in the area. Frank Lloyd Wright started the 'camp' in 1937 when his doctor suggested spending the winters in the southwest for his health. He would winter here until his death in 1959.

Frank Lloyd Wright fell in love with the desert landscape overlooking Paradise Valley just north of Scottsdale. It's easy to see why; still stunning.

Unlike many modernist architects Wright loved art and decoration and dotted his campus with items from his collection of Asian art as well as these Native American carvings above found on site.

At the time Wright was operating an architecture school and used his students as indentured servants of sorts. The students did the construction: collecting the stones on site and building the formwork to erect the structures on 'campus'. This might have been seen as slightly unfair but was a marvelous education for these young architects ( win win? ).  Above you see a corner of his office; the glass was a later addition (originally canvas was used in place of glass for the 'windows'.

Say what you will about Frank Lloyd Wright (most over-rated architect ever?) but the man was inventive. Forms and buildings like these were straight out of his imagination and unlike anything else at the time and have stood the test of time.

While on the topic, architects and designers love to roll their eyes at the name of Wright partly because he has become such an (overblown) icon. He is the only architect that the average person could probably name!  I think we need to give credit where it is due.  Wright may not be the ONLY great architect but he certainly was one of the most important designers of the 20th century.  The cult-like status awarded to him is bizarre but I can at least see the reasoning.

The campus faces the valley stretched out before it with a small lawn and pool - an oasis in the desert.

Above to the left you see the architecture studio (still in use by students )with his own house / quarters to the right. His office we saw earlier in the post is to the far left.

Another piece of Asian art incorporated into the landscape above.

And here we see Wright's favorite view in the world of Paradise Valley down to Scottsdale (until the power lines were installed!).  Wright lobbied to have them removed but nothing could be done.

The foundation still has an on-site sculptor (former student of Wrights) and her work dots the campus.

I love the way the buildings work with the surrounding landscape.  Above another fountain stands between Wrights private quarters and the screening room.

You heard that correctly, screening room! Wright was a huge movie buff; his son was a Hollywood agent and his granddaughter was Anne Baxter!  And as a precursor to current design the 'tv' ( or projector screen rather) was above the fireplace. The room also boasts this intriguing ceiling and coved lights.

This breezeway between Wrights quarters and the architecture school beautifully frames the view.

Above to the left is the screening room with Wright's quarters on the right.

This intriguing bell tower announced meal times.

I just fell in love with the desert landscape and can see the draw for Wright.

Fountains and water create little oasis pockets throughout the garden.

The lines of the buildings echo the lines of the desert floor - harking back to Wright's Prairie style.

Art works are to be found throughout the garden.

I loved this quote from Chinese philosopher Laotse  on the walls of the theater / gathering space: "The reality of the building does not consist in roof and walls but in the space within to be lived in";  A statement that's easy to forget in the planning and design of a building.

All of the fountains attracted bees and other desert wildlife -always a surprise!

The most interesting building on campus was the cabaret - still in frequent use.  Wright designed it in the shape of a hexagon to have perfect acoustics and to my untrained ear they were pretty amazing.

Mrs. Wright strung the uncharacteristic Christmas lights along the ceiling but they are a nice touch. I'm sure Wright would be appalled! All of the other fixtures and furniture in the room were custom designed by him.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look at Taliesin West through my eyes. For more pictures (special privileges much?) check out the blog of Martha Stewart who was allowed to take photos in areas that we weren't right around the same time I visited!  If you find yourself in the Phoenix / Scottsdale area make sure to check out Taliesin West!

Arizona Biltmore Hotel

Sitting here in snow and ice it's hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago I was in paradise or at least the closest thing in winter: Phoenix, Arizona! One of the most well known sites in Phoenix is the Arizona Biltmore Hotel resort.

While many believe that Frank Lloyd Wright was the architect of the Biltmore Hotel it was actually Albert Chase McArthur, a mentee of Wrights and formerly in his employ. Frank Lloyd Wright consulted on the design for 4 months in 1928 which included his textile blocks. The hotel opened in 1929.

Wright developed these concrete textile blocks 6 years earlier for use in Los Angeles. Concrete blocks are formed with decorative patterns which give these buildings their distinctive appearance.

Oddly enough Wright did not get his way for once in design matters; the blocks here were designed as rectangles rather than Wright's squares by McArthur's insistence.

The grounds are exquisitely manicured as you can see in these pictures. The hotel sits in a desert but you'd never know it by the amount of surrounding green.

To take advantage of these grounds and the glorious winter weather all of the roofs function as patios for the rooms offering views of the grounds and in some cases the mountains beyond.

 The copper detailing mimics the textile block pattern.

Across the main entrance one can see the Wrigley mansion perched on a hill which is now owned by the resort and used as a private club.

 Some of these large roofs have nearly enough room to play a game of football!

The views are breathtaking. As you can see in some of the photos the resort has expanded from the main building over the years to include other wings and buildings - all designed in the same Wright-ian Prairie style.

Replicas of Frank Lloyd Wright's "Sprites" from his Midway Gardens project in Chicago (1915) dot the grounds as do many other Wrightian references.

 Can you imagine spending an entire winter here as people were wont to do in the 1930s & 40s?

 The textile blocks are a great backdrop to the vegetation.

 While visiting don't miss the fabulous swimming pool where Marilyn Monroe was often photographed.

 No detail is overlooked at the resort, not even the gate to the pool area!

In more recent history Senator John McCain conceded defeat for the Presidency of the United States on the hotel grounds in a newscast ( November 4, 2008) - yet another reason to enjoy the resort!

Inside the spaces are cool and dark. Other than the 2 story lobby spaces ceiling heights are low. Don't forget that although Phoenix can be delightful in the winter the hot summers are brutal and the building responds to that architecturally. Air conditioning was installed in the 1960s enabling the hotel to operate year round.

 These unusual columns surround the lobby, seen here from the second floor.

I loved the art deco mailbox still in use in the lobby.

The stairs throughout the hotel are open and airy. I wonder if the metal railings were added to the textile block guardrail later for code purposes (36" height) or were original?

Detail of the interesting stairs.

The textile blocks are used in many different ways. In some areas they are used as a sort of window with embedded glass (above), in other places they function as light fixtures, while on the exterior they make up the shell of the building.

I'll be bringing you more photos of the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore in future posts as well as my previously promised post on Taliesin West!