Johnson Desert Compound | Arizona Biltmore Hotel | San Marcos-in-the Desert | Ocatilla | Taliesin West ARIZONA BILTMORE HOTEL Location: Phoenix, AZ Built: 1929 Client: Albert Chase McArthur Type: Hotel Tour Information The block style of construction that Wright used in the Arizona Biltmore causes the building to become desert monument. Not only are its materials in block form, bur its overall form consists of many vertically oriented blocks which help the building fit well with the rugged desert terrain. Photo taken from An Autobiography, p. 330. The Arizona Biltmore Hotel was being designed by McArthur and his two brothers Warren, Jr. and Charles when Wright entered the picture. There has been some confusion as to exactly who designed the Biltmore, but the overall consensus is that the McArthur brothers came up with the basic layout of the building, but most of the design was done by Wright. The hotel consisted of the main hotel and fifteen cottages. It was located on a 200 acre plot of land at the base of Squaw Peak, with an additional 400 acres reserved for a residential park.   This photograph shows the Arizona Biltmore in December of 1928 during its construction. It is easy to see how Wright incorporated the textile block method in the building's structure as well as in its finished appearance. Photo taken from An Autobiography, p. 328. Wright employed the textile block technique that he had used in previous southwest designs such as the Freeman and Millard Houses, both of 1923. Wright chose the expensive 12 by 3 inch blocks for the design, but once he left, McArthur changed the design, using 18 by 13 1/2 inch blocks instead, saving 50% on the production of the blocks.(Storrer pp. 226-9) This design gave the building a very distinct look on both the inside and outside. It was a look that Wright seemed to enjoy, and he would use it again in several buildings including his own desert residence in Death Valley, CA. The textile block technique was successful in the Biltmore project because the squares helped the building reside comfortably in the desert landscape. It was a modern, rugged appearance which reflected the desert landscape and vegetation which surrounded and in places crept into the complex. Not only did Wright's design for The Arizona Biltmore help him become more versed in the desert landscape, but it also brought him into contact with Dr. Alexander John Chandler, and would lead to the design of many more buildings in Wright's future.
site created 4/15/98 by W. Derek Weems wdwee@yahoo.com Last Updated on August 22, 2004 01:24:56 PM