Frank Lloyd Wright’s David and Gladys Wright House Is a Major Gift to His Fans

He may not be around to receive it, but Frank Lloyd Wright (and his fans) got a huge gift for the architect’s 150th birthday. Zach Rawling, a Phoenician who saved the David and Gladys Wright House in the shadow of Camelback Mountain from the wrecking ball, donated the Guggenheim-like spiral residence—both designs were conceived around the same time—and its ample acreage to the School of Architecture at Taliesin in Scottsdale, Arizona. (The school was formerly known as the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.)

“I’ve always admired the school and its fellowship, and what better way to inspire future generations on school field trips than a tour by a brilliant, enthusiastic architecture student?” said Rawling, president of the David and Gladys Wright House Foundation, who grew up biking past the property and became enthralled with architecture as a kid. The home was originally built for Wright’s son and daughter-in-law.

Beginning with the fall semester, a guesthouse will be used for classes and sketching rooms as well as living quarters for visiting professors and scholars. It expands the main house’s scholar-in-residence program inaugurated by Wright’s great-great-granddaughter in 2015. Students will work alongside landscape architects to restore the grounds, including half its citrus grove, which once totaled 475 trees.

“Wright designed the house to rise above the surrounding groves, to feel like it was looking over a lawn, a sea of citrus trees,” said Victor Sidy, the architect for its preservation and planning.

Contingent on raising an initial capital campaign for $7 million, the blueprint’s in place for a total renovation. But first, it’s time to celebrate with a sunrise-to-sunset birthday bash complete with cupcakes and balloons. Draped over and around the house, an installation of 15,000 balloons mimics the shapes and colors of Wright’s iconic “March Balloons” pattern featured on the house’s custom rugs.

“We wanted to do something joyful that engages social media instead of being behind velvet ropes,” said Rawling.

The playful gesture also extends an olive branch to Wright, who curmudgeonly turned his back on the valley when its power lines obstructed Taliesin West’s views.

“We’re a bit isolated out there, and this gift allows us to move off the hill and face Phoenix again,” said Aaron Betsky, dean of the School of Architecture at Taliesin.