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PRSSA Hiking Camelback
When I travel on these trips for PRSSA, I never want to leave right after the conference. I always have to stay for a least a day or two. After all, this is my opportunity to explore the world around me, to experience new cultures.
This time, I had the opportunity to explore Scottsdale, Arizona. After hiking Camelback Mountain with some PRSSA friends on Sunday evening, I had all day Monday free to roam the desert terrain. And it was literally a desert. Being my first time in Arizona — and coming from Florida, especially — this was an incredibly dry climate. Absolutely no humidity. It was like being in an oven.
I walked to Oldtown Scottsdale, looking for a bike rental shop. On my way, I found a trolly station. I also found a menu at the station. I was pretty hungry, so I decided to walk over to David’s Hamburgers and Mexican Food for breakfast. I had a Chorizo omelet — my first taste of Mexican sausage. From there, I bought a bus day pass and made my way about 12 miles north to Arizona Outback Adventures.
The bus dropped me off: I was in the desert. But as soon as the dust cleared and the bus roared off, a town emerged on the other side of the street. Civilization! A shopping center and restaurants. From here, though, I had to walk about a mile to the bike rental shop. And this was no walk in the park. Textbooks aren’t kidding when they say the desert is a harsh, extreme environment. The desert shrubbery pierced me with unforgiving thorns. The heat scorched me with relentless power. And the barren landscape left me feeling like one of those lone cowboys in an old Western, abandoned to fend for himself in the dry desert heat.
This is precisely the environment that Frank Lloyd Wright took into consideration when designing his desert getaway home — Taliesin West. I biked about 8 miles through parks, alongside canals and through neighborhood streets to reach Taliesin at the end of Cactus Road. Just when I thought I was there, I had to climb another brutal hill. And I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere, thinking Who in their right mind would live out here?
But then I was getting closer: Frank Lloyd Wright straight ahead. This place was incredible. Outside of the Guggenheim in New York City, this was the first realization of Wright’s genius I had seen. Understanding his element, he incorporated the triangle into every aspect of the camp. The desert is a sharp place. And the three points of the triangle mirror this.
My tour guide also taught me that Wright was more than an architect. He was a teacher, a passionate instructor. He did not just teach the practice of architecture, but he brought up his students under a complete learn-by-doing philosophy. Everything from the placement of entry ways, to the location of restrooms to the students’ learning plan was centered around this philosophy.
I also learned about Wright as a communicator. My tour guide said, “The better the communicator — the farther you go. It doesn’t matter what you do.” And in Wright’s case, he understood the value of communication. Communication extends far beyond the words on paper or, in today’s age, the typeface on your mobile device. Wright communicated messages through every aspect of Taliesin. The walls had meaning. The ceiling had reason. The furniture served a specific purpose. Everything was planned according to Wright.
In many ways, Wright used public relations practices. He understood his environment, and constructed his communication accordingly. It was well-planned, and it was deliberate. He communicates through his architecture.
And just like a well-planned, organized, deliberate public relations campaign — Taleisen West is a masterpiece. If you’re ever in Scottsdale, I would highly encourage you to visit. It will broaden your understanding of the world, even if you don’t necessarily like architecture. Believe me, you will walk away with a greater appreciation. And don’t be afraid to stay at the Motel 6. It’s one of the nicest hotels in its class I’ve ever stayed in.
Wright's use of triangles at Taliesin West
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