....... Exterior Renervations Natural Features Guided Tour  
       
 

Natural Features

With the permanence of Taliesin III the building brought together, more so than the previous two Taliesin houses, the environment with which the house stands. This was a combination of utilising the elements of the landscape, most obviously the house's construction on the hill's brow, and also a harnessing of nature to integrate the house into its surroundings.










Above,Taliesin III studio and wing.







In 1911 Wright built a dam across the stream that ran across the entrance to Taliesin in order to, 'raise the water level in the valley to within sight of Taliesin.' Again the consideration here was aesthetic giving a more spectacular view of the valley. A waterfall stands at the entrance and its power is used to drive a pump in the dam below to force water uphill into a succession of water features in the courtyard. Whether engineered or naturally occurring, the environment of Taliesin is carefully used to work in harmony with the building.

 



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Above, A view of Taliesin from the Lake.
With Taliesin III the courtyard does makes the observer aware that the house is below the top of the hill as its crest can be seen above the roof of the house. The structure is very much held in an embrace by the hill enclosing it. This gives the spaces of the courtyards great intimacy that is contrasted on by the house allowing sweeping views of the whole valley on the house's exposed side. Water, like in Japanese homes, is used to good effect and brought into the overall experience of the house.

Below, A view from the approach to the house
of the waterfall created by Wright.