Issue 324 September 21st 2022

The Headlines

UTSA Students Spend Summer Studying, Archiving Interior Spaces At Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

In June this year, eight students from the University of Texas San Antonio traveled to Arizona to study and survey Taliesin West as part of their Architectural Surveys and Measured Drawings class, taught by Sue Ann Pemberton, FAIA, senior lecturer with the UTSA College of Architecture, Construction and Planning.

This ongoing collaboration between UTSA and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation first started in 2014, as part of a pilot class, to document the original dining room at Taliesin West. Since then, Sue Ann Pemberton and her students have returned each summer, with the exception of a recent two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Every year they focus on producing HABS drawings for a new space on the property for submission to the Library Congress and to be utilized by the Taliesin West Preservation Department. This year they focused on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Garden Room.

As a team, the class spent four weeks living at Taliesin West. From dawn to dusk, learning everything that they could about the building and Wright’s design and construction process. Using state-of-the-art and primitive equipment, they would measure, model, sketch, photograph, research and dig into historic archives to understand and appreciate how the building came into existence.

Megan Suzann Reed of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) conducted a learning session with the students showing them the latest technology using a Leica Laser Scanner for use in documentation. This afforded them the opportunity to explore other tools they could possibly use in the future. The students still completed their work with more traditional methods of archiving for their class assignments.

At the end of the project, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will receive the students’ documentation files for archival purposes and submission into the Library of Congress. Once accepted, the detailed documentation will be free for the public to view.

The students took some time at the end of their stay to reflect on their experiences. Click here for their thoughts about living and working at Taliesin West.

Madison To Engage Community On Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge

In August 2022, Madison selected three finalists in its Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge, aimed at creating a “visionary, inclusive and environmentally focused master plan” for 1.7 miles of shoreline and 17 acres of Madison’s foremost public lakefront.

The forthcoming plans are intended to better connect Capitol Square and neighborhoods to the lake, improve water quality and aquatic habitat, celebrate Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural legacy and preserve the lake's cultural history.

Madison is offering a series of public events on the Lake Monona waterfront design challenge, including a "kick off" to engage with three nationally-renowned finalists, a later check-in on progress, and then presentations on proposed master plans. For more information on these events click here.

Fall Events At Taliesin West

Taliesin West, the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, welcomes fall with a variety of family programs as well as cultural experiences. Whether drinks at sunset or inspiring your inner architect are your vibe, join the more than 100,000 annual visitors by stopping by the UNESCO World Heritage Site this fall. For a list of upcoming events, click here.

A Day At Taliesin

On Sunday, October 16, from noon till 4pm, enjoy the colors of the harvest season while roaming the landscape and basking in the beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 800-acre homestead at this family-oriented event! Discover the seamless blend of architecture and nature on a self-guided tour of the grounds or participate in various immersive and educational add-on activities. We’re here to help you create the Taliesin experience you’ve always envisioned. Space is limited. Reserve your FREE General Admission tickets to A Day at Taliesin online today!

This free, immersive experience gives visitors the chance to explore Taliesin’s grounds at their own pace, meet local vendors, and take in the landscape that inspired Wright’s organic architecture.

Your day will start at the Wright-designed Visitor Center at 5607 County Road C, Spring Green. You are encouraged to arrive at noon. At check-in, you’ll receive a parking pass, map, wristband, and packet of information about the buildings at Taliesin. Activity sheets are available at the front desk for the younger guests.

Bring a blanket and enjoy picnicking on the grass! Pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase in the Gift Shop at the Visitor Center. More here.

Wright's Keland House Draws Attention In Wisconsin

One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s largest Usonian homes is on the market for the first time in its history. The Keland House sits on three acres in Mount Pleasant , Wisconsin, and is up for sale for the first time since its commissioning in 1954, listed at $725,000. Its former resident was Karen Johnson Boyd, the daughter of Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr., of SC Johnson.

This 4,978-square-foot Usonian model home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Located on a bluff of a ravine that overlooks the Root River, Colonial Park, and Racine Country Club. Sitting on over 3 stunning acres blending with nature and maximizing views. The expansive dramatic great room is cantilevered above the ravine emphasizing the continuity between interior and exterior. The guestroom is on the 2nd floor of the main wing, adjoining a sitting room (den) and a balcony that overlooks the great room and ravine below. All but one of the 6 bedrooms is en suite. See the photos by clicking here.

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