When David Wright asked his father to construct a home at the base of Camelback Mountain for him and his wife Gladys, the Arcadia neighborhood looked much different than how we know it today. In 1952, as construction began on what would be known as the David Wright House, architect Frank Lloyd Wright was surrounded by mountains and orange groves that struck him as the epitome of what it meant to be in mid-century Phoenix. He titled his plans for the house, “How to Live in the Southwest”, and built a home that, even as the surrounding area evolved from orange groves to developed neighborhoods through the decades, would stand the test a time as an embodiment of how to live in the Southwest for generations to come.
On this past Thursday, Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday anniversary, the David Wright House was pledged as a gift to benefit The School of Architecture at Taliesin for use as an extension of the 85 year-old educational program founded by Frank Lloyd Wright. The House will be formally gifted to a new supporting organization of the Arizona Community Foundation for the benefit of The School of Architecture at Taliesin, whose purpose is to sustain the education mission of The School by raising funds needed to achieve The School’s purpose and vision.
To celebrate Wright’s birthday and this incredible announcement, balloon artist Jihan of Geronimo Balloons used over 20,000 balloons to recreate the famous March Balloons logo that covered the carpet at the Wright House. You can see video and pictures of the amazing installation on Facebook and Instagram.
In addition to this exciting announcement to carry on Wright’s legacy, the “How To Live In The Southwest” cultural tour took place throughout this past weekend. Four lifestyle bloggers from across the country will experienced Southwestern culture, food and art and immersing themselves in the Phoenician lifestyle. Stops included the David Wright House, the Royal Palms Hotel, the Heard Museum, Taliesin West, Old Town Scottsdale, Roosevelt Row, and a canal tour provided by Salt River Project.
You can catch videos and photos from the entire tour by following the David Wright House on Facebook and Instagram to catch a glimpse of what it means to live in the Southwest.