^ I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times clear. A few years ago controversy swirled around the David and Gladys Wright House, a Phoenix house that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for his son and daughter-in-law. Neighbors in the upscale Arcadia neighborhood, where the house stands on six acres of land that was once filled with fragrant orange blossom, protested owner Zachary Rawling’s proposal to build a cultural center on the property, which led Rawling to abandon the plans and the property on the market. On August 14, new owners closed a $ 7.25 million deal for the 2,200-square-foot home. These include Bing Hu, Wenchin Shi, and Jim Benson. Bing Hu is the founding director of a Scottsdale-based global architecture firm called H&S International, which specializes in luxury hospitality and high-end residences. The Hu and Shi couple are closely connected to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Both were architecture apprentices at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, where the architect known for his organic designs founded the School of Architecture in Taliesin in 1959, just nine years after the David and Gladys Wright House was built. Hu and Benson sit on the board of directors of the school, which is currently going through its own changes after separating from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation earlier this year. The new owners have not announced any specific plans to maintain and restore the house, adding a copper roof that was part of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original design. But Victor Sidy, a Phoenix architect who has known Hu and Shi for two decades, spoke to the Phoenix New Times about what to expect when the house moves forward. Sidy once ran the School of Architecture in Taliesin, and his company did renovations for the David and Gladys Wright House before Rawling brought it to market. “I think the new owners would love to share the joy of the house, but they don’t plan to use it as a cultural center,” says Sidy. “It will be your private estate.” EXPAND The David and Gladys Wright House in Phoenix was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Victor Sidy Sidy notes that they won’t be the first owners of the home to prefer a lower profile. “David and Gladys Wright were very private and advised people not to visit,” he explains. The approach suggested by some that the house was in ruins. “By the time it was almost demolished before the Rawling family had it, the house was off the architectural radar.” But the house has never really lost its architectural significance. “It’s one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s last great masterpieces,” says Sidy. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a rare field of experimentation for a savvy architect in the ’80s.” Although experimenting with materials was a hallmark of Wright’s career, Sidy said the architect could take more risks with this house because he was there for designed his son. Eventually, he designed a three bedroom, four bath home that was built with concrete bricks and windows that gave a view of the entire length of Camelback Mountain. The house contains the spiral design Wright used for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, which opened in 1959. “The spiral represented infinity and rebirth and growth for Wright,” says Sidy. “He was only able to do it in a few buildings.” That is one of many reasons why Sidy is glad that the house was not demolished years ago. Another, he says, is that “Frank Lloyd Wright always talked about his architecture being living architecture that is the true North Star that I am always headed for. Some people prefer to keep buildings in amber, but Wright’s buildings are nothing without life in them. ”He looks forward to seeing how the house continues to reflect Wright’s vision. “The new owners are committed to getting the house back to its splendid condition,” he says. “This was almost an abandoned building, but I’m optimistic about its future.” Keep Phoenix New Times Free … Ever since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and so have we want it to stay that way. We offer our readers free access to concise coverage of local news, food and culture. We produce stories about everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with bold reporting, stylish writing, and staff who have won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Feature Writing Award to the Casey- Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with the existence of local journalism under siege and the setbacks in advertising revenues having a bigger impact, it is now more important than ever for us to raise funds to fund our local journalism. You can help by joining our “I Support” membership program which allows us to continue to cover Phoenix without paywalls. Lynn Trimble is an award-winning freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts and culture, including the visual and performing arts
[ad_2]
