Things to do / Travel Guide
Southern Arizona is a relatively young region in terms of architecture. The population boom only began after World War II, when the newly developed air conditioning technology made the sweltering summer months bearable. There are several architectural sights in the region that are worth viewing, most notably, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West.
Architecture around Phoenix and Scottsdale
Heritage Square, located in central Phoenix, is one spot where you'll be able to see some older buildings, such as the Victorian-style Rosson House. Once the most elegant home in the city, it has now been meticulously restored to its original appearance. Other 19th century homes on Heritage Square now house museums or restaurants.
Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most prominent and influential architects of the last century, lived in Scottsdale toward the end of his life. Known for his open floor plans and simplified construction techniques, Wright's “Usonian” homes transformed modern suburban home design and influenced many other developers. Wright's Taliesin West, a winter home used by him and his students, is located in the western foothills of the McDowell Mountains, about 15 miles northeast of Scottsdale. It was in the Taliesin West drafting room that Wright designed some of his most famous buildings, included New York City's Guggenheim Museum. The building is still used as an architectural school, and tours of the school and Wright's private living quarters are available.
The Cosanti Foundation, located about six miles north of Scottsdale, is the residence and sculpture studio of Paolo Soleri, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and his staff. Soleri's goal has been to make the world a better place and his architectural designs reflect his desire to combine architecture with ecology. He and his staff began working on his experimental buildings in the mid 1950's, and today you can tour this unique architectural environment.
While the Gila River Arts and Crafts Center itself displays Native American crafts, the Heritage Park just outside the Center has on display traditional housing structures of the Hohokam, Pima, Maricopa, Tohono O'odham, and Apache tribes.
Architecture around Tucson
There's lots of interesting architectural finds around historic Tucson. Begin in the northern section at the Edward Nye Fish House, which now houses the Jack Goodman Pavilion of Western Art. The house has solid adobe walls that are more than 2.5 feet thick and 15-foot ceilings. La Casa Cordova, an adobe structure that dates from 1848, is one of the oldest houses in Tucson and its interior rooms have been restored to reflect life in the 1880s. An excellent example of the Mission Rival, or Spanish Mediterranean, style is the Corbett House, built in 1907 on the site of the original presidio (fort) wall built by the Spanish in the 18th century. The impressive St. Augustine Cathedral, which is modeled after the Cathedral of Queretaro on Mexico, is located in the southern section of the walking tour.
Mission San Xavier del Bac, located ten miles south of downtown Tucson, is a magnificent example of Mexican folk baroque architecture. It's also a bit bizarre, since the Franciscan missionaries who began constructing it in the mid-18th century ran out of funds before the church was completed and only one of the two imposing bell-towers is finished. Inside, the “marble” altar is painted on the wall, as are the “chandeliers” and “glazed tiles.”
For a glimpse of architecture from the future, visit Biosphere 2, located 30 miles northeast of Tucson, a futuristic mini-world that was built in the early 1990s. Visitors can tour the inside of this sealed and self-contained giant domed-structure that attempts to replicate the planet's ecosystems. You'll see where the original “biosphereians” lived, the farm area where they grew their crops, and the kitchen where they cooked their meals. After passing through an air lock, you'll visit the wilderness areas of Biosphere 2, which include tropical and desert environments.
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