Taliesin and Taliesin West Site-Wide Temperature & Humidity Monitoring

FAIN: PG-258452-18

Taliesin West (Scottsdale, AZ 85259-2537)
Margo Stipe (Project Director: May 2017 to June 2019)

The purchase and installation of environmental monitoring equipment to aid in the preservation of collections housed at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, modern historic homes designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  The library, archival, and museum collections in each home include historic furnishings, many designed by Wright himself, Wright’s own Asian art collection, and architecture and design materials related to the practice, history, and theory of architecture.

The purpose of this project is to purchase and install 31 Data Loggers in the historic interiors and collection storage areas at Taliesin in Wisconsin and Taliesin West in Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes and working complexes. The Data Loggers will monitor spaces where historic furnishings and art are on display, books and periodicals are actively used, and drawings, artifacts and artworks are stored. The data will inform selection of future mechanical climate control systems, maximizing our ability to preserve these treasures. Wright and his apprentices designed, built and often modified the buildings at both locations. The pastoral Wisconsin estate sharply contrasts his Arizona desert camp. These extraordinary buildings did not feature mechanical climate control during Wright’s lifetime, relying instead on architectural design elements to address changing weather. Today, as National Historic Landmarks, artificial climate control IS a concern.