Image Credits: Wipliance

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced a collaborative partnership earlier this week, working with automation company, Wipliance, and lighting solutions company, Lutron. The collaboration is a renovation of a celebrated architectural design of Wright's in Scottsdale, Arizona, known as Taliesin West. By combining control technologies with innovative lighting solutions, the partnership brings modern solutions to a time-honored architectural institution.

The History of Taliesin West

The initial creation of Taliesin West began with advice from Wright's doctor in 1935, suggesting that the architect "migrate" to Arizona every winter to avoid the harsh conditions of a Midwest winter. Working with his students, as well as utilizing resources native to the Arizona desert, Wright envisioned Taliesin West as a unique addition to the landscape that also naturally integrated with it. In 2019, the home was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and now offers tours to the public.

Lutron's Innovative Ketra Lighting

To complement the naturally-focused designs of the home, Wipliance and Lutron are extensively utilizing Lutron's Ketra lighting. "Our partnership with Taliesin West and Lutron marks a significant step in enhancing the site's aesthetic and functionality," said Lee Travis, owner of Wipliance. "Ketra's ability to mimic natural light beautifully complements Wright's design philosophy." In implementing more natural lighting solutions, the home's rich design characteristics now feature an equally-rich lighting atmosphere.

Wipliance's Implementation and Planning

Of course, working with a historically-legendary property like a Frank Lloyd Wright home requires a delicate, deliberate touch, a requirement Wipliance was eager to achieve. "In looking for partners to do work that could embrace all kinds of wiring, we have to have best-in-class partners that appreciate our mission to preserve this architecture and do their work in ways that are minimally invasive," said Stuart Graff, former President and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. "Because of the technology and because the team at Wipliance is so respectful of the legacy represented at Taliesin West, all of this lighting could be installed in ways that did no damage."

The result is an enhancement that boasts modern solutions while maintaining the integrity of the original vision. Revisions include improved energy efficiency across the building's lighting, an intelligent lighting solution optimized to showcase the home's features, and an intuitive control system to manage it. While almost certainly an extremely careful and concerted effort, as is common with such sensitive environments, the final product is certainly a thing to behold.