Taliesin West

NORTH SCOTTSDALE. A masterpiece of architecture based on indigenous materials and organic forms, this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed complex rests on 600 acres of Sonoran desert at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Wright's crew constructed the site and buildings (conceived as a winter home for his architectural students and for himself) from local stone and desert sand. Now designated a National Historic Landmark, the working campus is open daily for tours; the best months to attend are October to May. "Taliesin," a nod to Wright's Welsh heritage, means "shining brow" and refers to his belief that homes should be built not on the peak of a hill but just below, so they appear to have arisen naturally from the landscape rather than crown it. Reservations requested for in-depth tours.