Issue 485 October 8th 2025

The Headlines

Celebrate Organic Design in the Desert :: 2025 OA+D Celebration Tickets Now Available

Tickets are now available for the 2025 Organic Architecture + Design Celebration at the Chandler Museum, where this year’s theme—"Sonoran Shapes and Structures: Desert-Inspired Architecture and Design"—reflects the newly opened exhibition. Together, the symposium and exhibit highlight how the Sonoran Desert has inspired generations of architects and designers, from Frank Lloyd Wright to today’s practitioners.

The day begins with a symposium from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM featuring guest lecturers on the enduring influence of desert-inspired organic design. In the evening, guests will gather for a social event, offering time to reconnect with Fellows, friends, and the wider OA+D community.

Fundraising initiatives will be part of the Celebration as well, giving attendees the opportunity to directly support OA+D’s mission to preserve rare drawings, photographs, and archives documenting the legacy of organic design.

The OA+D Celebration is more than a symposium—it’s a gathering of community, history, and vision. Reunite with colleagues, meet new friends, and help sustain the legacy of organic architecture and design.

For registration details, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit HERE and see you in Chandler!

Flossmoor Frank Lloyd Wright House To Open For Public Tour

The Foundation for the Preservation of Flossmoor History invites you to a one time tour to see The Frederick D. Nichols House Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Built in 1906. Proceeds to benefit Restoration of The Wagner Building, Home of the Foundation which will be the Home of Flossmoor History and other Cultural events.

October 11th, 10AM-2PM. 1136 Brassie, Flossmoor, Illinois. Admission: $30 Donation.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House

The Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright's first Los Angeles, California residence, is open to the public again after pandemic closures and extensive restorations. Located in East Hollywood’s Barnsdall Art Park, the 5,000-square-foot home—commissioned by oil heiress Aline Barnsdall in 1921—has been earthquake-reinforced and restored, including repairs to its cast stonework, wood, art glass, and roof.

As LA's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the house holds global cultural and architectural significance. Its design features abstractions of the hollyhock flower, Barnsdall’s favorite, with Mayan influences in the stonework. Wright’s signature integrated approach is evident in everything from furniture to textiles and windows, all based on the hollyhock motif.

Notable features include original 1921 dining furniture with high-backed chairs, Japanese screens bought by Barnsdall, and a unique fireplace with a symbolic moat representing the four elements. The home also includes livable roof terraces, highlighting Wright’s vision. Many original elements have returned, making the house a rare, well-preserved example of Wright’s holistic design philosophy.

Couple Buys Rare Abandoned Home & Photos Found Inside Reveal Its Past

A TikTok video by 26-year-old interior designer Victoria Koy documenting her and her husband Kimchean’s purchase of a historic abandoned home has gone viral, garnering over 886,000 views. The home, located in Wood County, West Virginia, was originally designed and built in the 1950s by Sheng Pao Sheng and Shao Fang Sheng—apprentices of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The video contrasts vintage photos of the house with its current decayed state, as Koy expresses gratitude for discovering the old images and a desire to restore the property. The couple had admired the home for years and finally bought it in September 2025 after four years of discussions with the original owners' son.

Uninhabited since 2008 and neglected since 2018, the house is in poor condition—overrun with bamboo, damaged by water, and missing key interior elements like the kitchen and bathrooms. Still, Wright’s design influence is evident in architectural features like mitered corner windows, strong horizontal lines, and a central fireplace.

Despite the home’s deterioration, the couple is determined to restore and preserve its unique character, while adding their own creative touch. Their renovation journey reflects broader trends in rising home improvement investments across the U.S.

Taliesin West Welcomes New Season Of Programming

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has launched a new season of tours, events, exhibitions, and hands-on programs at Taliesin West, Wright’s winter home and UNESCO World Heritage site in Scottsdale, Arizona. Designed to deepen public understanding of Wright’s legacy, this season offers a range of experiences for visitors of all ages, blending architecture, nature, and design.

Returning favorites include the updated Self-Guided Audio Tour with interactive "Then & Now" cards, the Shelters in the Desert Hike exploring apprentice-built desert dwellings, and the Behind-the-Scenes Tour that grants access to typically restricted areas. Family Tours continue on select dates, offering an engaging experience for children and adults alike.

New this season is the Golden Hour Sunset Hike, a guided desert walk on Sunday evenings, and the Artist Pass, which provides artists with quiet access to sketch or photograph the site. Events include the return of the monthly Sunsets & Sips evenings, the Taliesin West Film Series in the historic Cabaret Theater, and Discovery Day, featuring performances, crafts, and interactive learning.

Educational offerings remain robust, with Homeschool Explorations, seasonal Camp Taliesin West programs, and school field trips. A variety of workshops invite creative participation from all age groups. New Family Workshops encourage collaborative learning, while The Arts at Taliesin West offers adult-focused classes in painting, mosaic design, sketching, and weaving. Photography Workshops with Andrew Pielage and new Teen Architecture Workshops provide immersive experiences in creative disciplines.

Tickets for all programs and events are available at franklloydwright.org.

NH Kalil House Named To National Register Of Historic Places

The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources announced Wednesday that the Kalil House has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. The house is the second Frank Lloyd Wright house in the state to receive the designation.

The Kalil House in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a remarkable example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Automatic home design. Designed in 1955, the house was built for Toufic and Mildred Kalil, a young couple seeking a modern and efficient home. It has not undergone any alterations or major restorations since it was built in 1957.

Owned by the Currier Museum of Art, the house is Wright's only Usonian Automatic-designed home open to the public.

The Currier Museum of Art offers a unique two-hour tour which includes both the Zimmerman House and the Kalil House. The tour begins at the Museum and visitors are shuttled to the site of the houses on Heather Street. Learn more and book your tour at https://www.franklloydwrighttour.com.

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