Taliesin West: Assignment 3: Case Study

Assignment 3: Master of Science in Sustainable Design
Case Study PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY | School of Architecture

SDN 601 | Sustainable Design Methodologies
Integral Sustainable Design: Case Study

The Facts: Behaviors Perspective (Maximize Performance)
Taliesin West
Built: 1937 - 1959
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright.
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona.
Coordinates: 33°36′22.8″N 111°50′45.5″W.
Area: 620 acres (250 ha).
Interior: 40,000 sqft of living space
Climate: Hot and Dry.
Use: Personal winter home, studio (For FLW), and architectural campus.
Tour hours: Everyday 9 am to 4pm.
Visitors per year: more than 100,000.
Cost (Land): $3.50/ acre.
Style: Modern/ Organic/ Indigenous.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places: February 12, 1974
National Historic Landmark designation: May 20, 1982
National Register Number: 74000457
Scottsdale Historic Register designation – April 4th 2006
Rated 3.4 stars by US News Travel.
Located in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.
Construction: Stone, wood and canvas.
Designed to blend into desert.
Cost of operating energy systems is: $170,000.
Solar cell array installed in 2012
250 kW (AC) ground-mount Photo Voltaic system
- Annual LP gas savings: $45,000
- Reduction in grid energy use: 45%
- Reduction in electrical cost: $28,000 (35%)
SDN 601 | Principles and Methodologies for Sustainable Design – Assignment 3: Case Study (9/25/14)

Systems Perspective (Guide Flows)
Plan View
Original sketch
Sun Exposure
Summer sun
Winter sun
The slopped roof

allows the south
winter sun into the
room, blocking it
during the summer.
Light allowed
in from the
clerestory
Clerestories allow
light further into the
Light allowed in
space, even from the
from the
north facade.
window
Shade
The shape of the

beams shapes the Sun Rays
building during low Shaded area
angle periods of the
day.
Shade allows to
maintain indoor
comfort
temperature.
New Solar cell array
Photo voltaic system

installed in 2012 for
energy efficiency
IN = Solar power
OUT = Electrical
Power to supply
the building
Photovoltaic system
is located far enough
from the building so
Taliesin Building
it does not interrupt
the nature- desert
surroundings Solar cell array
Ventilation (Original Design)
OUT = Warm air
Left: The original

design did not
include any glass,
which allowed
natural ventilation.
IN = Cool air Top: Manually
operated vents for
user comfort.
Construction System
Massive walls built

with local rocks and
stones filled with
cement.
Cement fill
Rough surface of
the rock facing
inwards
Local rocks (Flat

surface outside)
Wood removable
Let dry for 2 days
formwork
Formwork is reused
for next wall
Furniture

Cultures Perspective (Manifest Meaning) (social/cultural)
Insert World View: Built during industrialization to reflect agriculture world view values.
Energy Type: Designed to use daylight and wind for natural ventilation and lighting. Still has
modern energy systems built in. Solar power installed in 2012 for energy efficiency.
Communications Type: Written, Radio, TV.
Climate Type Here: Desertic - Hot and dry.
Integration with its surroundings:

The goal of the design of Taliesin was to integrate the structures with the “soul” of the
desert. The sloping walls and beams mimic the forms of the mountains beyond, terraces
are open and spacious like the desert surrounding the building.
Mimic of native desert appropiate architecture:

The materials used are those found on site, resembling the native american architecture
of the Arizona area. Wright’s design for the interiors was based in a “tent”. Using canvas
as roofing to iluminate the interiors. (White canvas originally later changed to plastic
fabric for durability)
Planned as a self-contained community:

o Located far from urban areas, provided integral environment for working, living
and recreation.
o Complex reinforced the concept of freedom.
o Experience not only architecture but also construction, farming and gardening.
o Apprentices did every chore on their own and rotated activities between
construction, working in the kitchen, gardening and farming, laundry and
cleaning.

Experience (Engender Experience)
References
 "Taliesin West." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliesin_West>.
 "Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation." Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.franklloydwright.org/>.
 "Taliesin West." Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2014. <http://www.docomomo-

us.org/register/fiche/taliesin_west>.
 BGZ, Inc. "Energizing Taliesin West." TA L I E S I N W E S T TM (2013): n. pag. Web. 04 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.azchamber.com/assets/files/Event%20Presentations/ESS%202013/Last.%20Talies
en%20West.pdf>.
 Wright, Frank Lloyd, Suzette A. Lucas, and Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Taliesin West: An
Interpretive Guide: In the Realm of Ideas. Scottsdale, AZ: Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, 1993.
 Smith, Kathryn. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West. New York: Harry N. Abrams,
1997.
 "Taliesin, Building Architects Since 1932." Taliesin, Building Architects Since 1932. N.p., n.d. Web.
06 Oct. 2014. <http://taliesin.edu/>.
 "Taliesin West by Frank Lloyd Wright at GreatBuildings." GreatBuildings. N.p., n.d. Web. 02
Oct. 2014. <http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Taliesin_West.html>.
 "Taliesin, Building Architects Since 1932." Taliesin, Building Architects Since 1932. N.p., n.d.
Web. 01 Oct. 2014. <http://www.taliesin.edu/>.
 Mayer, Daniel Dwight. : National Register of Historic Place Inventory-Nomination Form.

Cooperstown, NY: New York State Historical Association, 1980. Taliesin West. Web. 1 Oct.
2014. <http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/74000457.pdf>.

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Assignment 3: Master of Science in Sustainable Design

Case Study PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY | School of Architecture

Integral Sustainable Design: Case Study

Integral Sustainable Design: Case Study

The slopped roof

The shape of the

New Solar cell array

Photo voltaic system

Ventilation (Original Design)

OUT = Warm air

Left: The original

Massive walls built

Local rocks (Flat

Integral Sustainable Design: Case Study

Integration with its surroundings:

Mimic of native desert appropiate architecture:

Planned as a self-contained community:

Integral Sustainable Design: Case Study

 "Taliesin West." Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2014. <http://www.docomomo-

 Mayer, Daniel Dwight. : National Register of Historic Place Inventory-Nomination Form.

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