Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix during the summer months can be summarized in one word: heat. Not being able to walk down the streets of downtown was unfortunate as we would have liked to take a closer look at the stunning local architecture.

Sleek buildings over a background of dry and sandy desert mountains is a combination that makes Phoenix a rather unique city.

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Some of the architectural highlights from Phoenix are the Museum of Art, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, the Clarendon Hotel, the Valley Ho and Marlen Grove.

The Valley Ho is a mid-century modern hotel located in neighboring Scottsdale. The building has recently been re-opened to the public and offers an eclectic mix of modern and contemporary designs.

Greg Esser from Made boutique is one of the individuals behind the Roosevelt Row initiative: a dynamic, walkable mixed-use cultural district connecting historic neighborhoods with the urban core of downtown Phoenix.

Modern Phoenix

The Modern Phoenix Neighborhood Network is a website featuring a collection of photographs, articles and discussion about mid-century modern architecture in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Marlen Grove (pictured above – first 5 from left) is a neighborhood in Phoenix where mid-century modern houses have been preserved and restored in different ways.

Taliesin West

Taliesin West is the western base of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Taliesin West sits within a pristine Sonoran desert landscape at the foot of the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale.

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Taliesin West used to be Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, studio and laboratory during the winter months. The architecture is highly inspired by Eastern art and design. It also showcases Frank Lloyd Wright’s multi-disciplinary skills.

Today the site is a not-for-profit foundation promoting FLW’s body of work and architecture philosophy. It is also the location of FLW architecture school, one of the smallest accredited architecture schools in the United States, counting only 25 students a year.