Johnson Desert Compound | Arizona Biltmore Hotel | San Marcos-in-the Desert | Ocatilla | Taliesin West JOHNSON DESERT COMPOUND Location: Death Valley, CA Designed: 1924-25(unbuilt project) Client: Albert Mussey Johnson Type: Compound with house and chapel Final Site Plan for Johnson Desert Compound showing the existing structures and Wright's L-shaped addition of bedrooms, living area, and shrine. Drawing taken from Levine, p. 179. Wright's first designs for the site were drawn directly on a color photograph of the existing site that he received from Johnson sometime in 1924. Wright's plan tied together the existing buildings with a series of textile block walkways, loggias, and enclosed living and work places. The most prominent feature of Wright's addition was a new L-shaped building which was composed of three parts.   This view west from the Johnson Ranch shows the mountainous desert terrain that Wright was forced to include in his design. His final design would include many windows and openings that were meant to provide a pleasant view of the surroundings. Photo taken from Levine, p. 184. Wright's interaction with the Johnson Compound and Death Valley is crucial to understanding how he would perceive and work with all the desert elements in his future work. It is important to realize that the desert southwest was in many ways the inverse of sites that Wright had worked on in such areas as Wisconsin and Illinois. The relationship between a project's site and its design had become crucial to Wright in most of his natural sites, and as he saw different sites and projects he acquired a knowledge of site that would be challenged by his exposure to the extreme natural conditions of the desert. Since the Johnson Compound was Wright's first real architectural experience with the desert it influenced his perception of nature. It did so by shaping his initial view of the desert, and it showed that Wright has the ability to understand and appreciate an incredible variety of natural settings.   South elevation of house and shrine/chapel. Drawing taken from Levine, p. 180. The first part was the chapel/shrine at the northeast end of the L. The chapel had an octagonal form and consisted of a tall steeple with a sharp point toward the heavens.       Second floor plan of living area, bed rooms, and chapel. Drawing taken from Levine, p. 180. The second part of the building is attached to the chapel by a bridge on the second floor. It consists of the main body of the house which includes the dining room living room, kitchen, and a wall of windows and doors leading out from the southeast side of the house.   Section taken through both the living area and bedroom wing. Drawing taken from Levine, p. 180. The final part of the building is the bedroom wing which extends perpendicularly from the living area. The southwest side of this wing has windows and doors which open out to terraces and a canyon. (Levine pp. 174-82)
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