Johnson Desert Compound | Arizona Biltmore Hotel | San Marcos-in-the Desert | Ocatilla | Taliesin West SAN MARCOS-IN-THE DESERT Location: Chandler, AZ Designed: 1928-29(unbuilt project) Client: Dr. Alexander John Chandler Type: Hotel In this photograph can be seen a model of San Marcos-in-the Desert built for an exhibit of Wright by the Library of Congress. Photo taken from Library of Congress: http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/flw/flw06.html The design for the Arizona Biltmore complex was so important to Wright's career because it would lead to his first contact with Dr. Alexander John Chandler, owner of the San Marcos Hotel. Chandler was one of Wright's favorite clients, his sometimes extreme imagination was one of the characteristics of Chandler that would make him one of the few clients that Wright truly respected. Chandler had a dream of constructing a desert resort that could rival the Arizona Biltmore for "wintering millionaires." Chandler was one of the most well known and respected figures in the Phoenix area, and this helped him create a town 23 miles south of Phoenix bearing his name (Levine, p. 198).   In this view of the Cudney House it can be seen how Wright was able to integrate this part of San Marcos-in-the Desert so well with its surroundings by actually building it into the hillside. Drawing taken from Levine, p. 213. Chandler's economic wisdom would help him realize that the warm desert climate could look very appetizing to wealthy east coast families who could come vacation in the colder winter months. The first building constructed toward this goal was the San Marcos Hotel in 1912-13. The hotel remained for fifteen years, and by the mid 1920s Chandler realized that wealthy vacationers desired a more secluded, private vacation outlet. When Wright arrived in Phoenix, Chandler then had all he needed to begin work on his new resort. Wright quickly began work on the project, devising preliminary drawings which were approved on September 25, 1928, and final plans which were completed by January 1, 1929. This contract had one very significant component which few to none had in the past. Wright signed a contract stating that he would be present at all times during the construction of San Marcos-in-the Desert Hotel, a better version of the older San Marcos Hotel. Wright and fourteen other draftsman, relatives and friends arrived in early January of 1929 to begin work on San Marcos-in-the Desert and there temporary campsite known as Ocatilla (Levine, p. 200).   In this typical section through the guest terraces one can see again how Wright maintained a distinct horizontality by creating a step effect despite the tricky hillside below. Drawing taken from Levine, p. 208. The final design for San Marcos-in-the Desert became known as one of Wright's favorite designs. Because of the stock market crash of 1929, the building was never built, and Wright was quoted saying "The building was economical never the less but too good to be true. I have found that when a scheme develops beyond normal pitch of excellence, that hand of fate strikes it down."(Foothills Magazine, http://www.foothillsmagazine.com/issue2vol1/sanmarc.phtm [link is no longer available] ). Wright emphasized the use of triangles in the hotel's design because the mountains of the landscape create triangles throughout the desert. The hotel was designed for what Bruce Pfieffer calls the "automobile tourist". If built, people would have parked their cars near the entrance of the complex, and be shuttled to and from the complex. The average guest terrace was built onto the side of a hill in the form of steps as to not disturb the landscape that it compliments.
site created 4/15/98 by W. Derek Weems wdwee@yahoo.com Last Updated on August 22, 2004 01:25:11 PM