PrairieMod

Prefabs Done Wright

Here's a link to a recent Fast Company article looking at the new Taliesin Mod.Fab™ and Frank Lloyd Wright's own Prefab legacy. Read more here.

Top photo via Fast Company
Bottom photo copyright Bill Timmerman

Don't Take This Countertop For Granite

Caesarstone is proud that their natural quartz material was used for the kitchen countertop in the Taliesin Mod.Fab™ project at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ. Read more about the usage here and about Caesarstone products here.

Image via SOA World Magazine

Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 6

In four short months, the Taliesin Prefabrication Prototype has been transformed from a concept to real space. We look forward to cladding the exterior of the structure by mid summer. The majority of the work for the summer will be detailing the interior space in preparation for our fall migration back to Taliesin West.

Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 5

View looking from the living room to the bedroom. The skylight, pictured above will provide daylight for the bathroom, once the area is enclosed.

Last week the sliding doors were installed for the Prefabrication Prototype; moving the prototype one step closer to being "dried in". Cecil and Rick, the installation team from Milgard installed the doors in the living area. Then the students, with Rick and Cecil's help installed the bedroom doors; providing a great hands on learning opportunity. The project team would like to thank Milgard and their representative Mark Jacobson for providing the doors at a discounted price and the installation for free. We would also like to thank Cecil and Rick, Milgard's installation team.

Next week I will be migrating across the country for the start of the summer season, at Taliesin East (Wisconsin). In two weeks I will post an update on the progress of the project, the learning that has occurred and the intentions for the completed project.

Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 4

Students standing up a bedroom wall

Last week the project progressed quickly from a steel sub-structure to an enclosed space with the installation of the SIP wall and roof panels, by the students. To see a floor plan and the progress so far, Click the "continue reading" link below.

Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 3

Taliesin students, staff, and faculty off load steel

Last week saw the delivery and welding of the steel banding (I beams) on which the rest of the structure will be supported. This week I look forward to sharing the Structurally Insulated Panel (SIPS) installation with the PrairieMod readership. Click the "continue reading" link below to see photos of the steel work as well as a video treat.

Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 2

The site ready for concrete work

We have broken ground for the foundation of the Taliesin Prototype. On March 29th, we poured the concrete and set the weld plates for the steel supports that allow the prototype to hover over the desert floor and wash. 

Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 1

A portion of the team surveying the site

Things have moved ahead on the Taliesin Prefabrication Prototype. The final floor plan for the project was established and the structural drawings have passed their first review. The team just completed surveying and making a topographic map of the site, to help with making landscaping and other design decisions.

The Taliesin Prefab Team had an informative meeting with Lane Garrett, owner of ETA Engineering; he answered questions about adding solar power to the prototype. The team plans to go ahead with a solar array on the roof by United Solar Ovonic. Currently, we have to decide whether to tie the solar system into the grid (allowing the project to give energy back to Taliesin when it is not in use); or to keep the dwelling off the grid and use batteries.  We hope to continue working with Lane to specify the appliances and the mechanical systems, for the unit.

Taliesin PreFab Studio: An Introduction

Looking across the wash to the building site

The Taliesin Students and their Dean Victor Sidy, in conjunction with Jennifer Siegal, founder and principal of the Office of Mobile Design, are working to design and build a 960 square foot prefabricated prototype on the grounds of Taliesin West. This project is being undertaken as an example of simple, elegant and sustainable living in the desert. There are nine undergraduate and graduate students who are working on the project; the project is slated to be completed in April 2008.