Taliesin

The trip to Taliesin was an on the fly decision. We were bombing across the middle of South Dakota (the most boring stretch of road I've ever driven with the exception of the Mojave desert). I've been to Taliesin once before but didn't get into the main residence. This was the day. There were many spaces (inside and out) like the one below that compressed and then released you. 

Unfortunately we weren't allowed to photograph anything inside the house but the shots of the 600 acre site were amazing. 

I really love the shot below of the hill across from the house. It looked like it would end near the Romeo and Juliet windmill tower and Tay-y-deri ( a house Wright designed for some family member). 

The inside of the house was very interesting. I loved some the spaces, like a little off to the side of the cantilevered deck over looking to grounds and the valley. The main entertaining room reminded me of the main room at Falling Water. There was a 150-300 year old Chinese rug in the families private living area that wouldn't fit between the columns til Mr. Wright took out a knife and cut the rug around the columns. What an ego, but I will say it looked great in the room. 

The structure seems to be falling apart. I asked our tour guide what the estimate was to bring the entire house up snuff, and after trying to dodge my question, she said that a couple years back the number was 60 million dollars. I hope they raise the money and fix this great piece of thinking. Mr. Wright's way of seeing space was amazing. There was an interaction between interior and exterior, the made you aware of who owned what around the property. The horse stables had a beautiful view (one most of us would kill for) but not one he controlled so the family quarters all over looked a hill across the way the he and his family owned and could control. 

These steps were something that were found all around the property. They drew you into either small intimate places to sit a sip tea (diet coke) or to view expansive vistas of the surroundings. I really enjoyed looking at the detail he placed into everything.  From the repeating of stone in the hills across the way to the little "tv" trays he design from plywood (it was during the depression) for his guests to eat there meals from in the main entertaining room.

I want to added a special thanks to Rebecca for 1) being willing to take this side trip and for 2) for taking these beautiful photographs for me to remember this stop.

I will return to Taliesin with plans to take the "Estate Tour" (4 hours) . We took the "House Tour" (2 hours) and previously took the "Hillside Tour" (1 hour).

http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/