Raymond Carlson And His Frank Lloyd Wright House - Exterior

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Raymond Carlson House. Phoenix, Arizona.

Although not a new add to my #500fllwproject, I did have the amazing opportunity to photograph Frank Lloyd Wright’s Raymond Carlson house again. Why “again” you ask? Well, it’s actually the third time I’ve tried. Well clouds and wind have not been on my side for this one but we finally made it happen last week. Sooooo here is No116!

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Raymond Carlson House. Phoenix, Arizona.

“I’ll design a home for you, for free. All you have to do is buy a lot and provide a construction crew”, Wright said to his buddy Raymond Carlson. Built in 1950 for the editor of our beloved Arizona Highways magazine, Raymond Carlson, this little gem in Phoenix interwines three levels and a roof garden into a tiny footprint. It’s a post and panel construction, using wood posts and insulated Cemesto board panels.

Wright’s Welbie L. Fuller house (1951) and Louis Penfield house (1953) are both later variations of this system.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Welbie L Fuller house, 1951. Photo credit: William Allin Storrer

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Louis Penfield house, 1953. Photo credit: Penfieldhouse.com

I also found this pre 1970’s image of the house with the original carport on the right (west side of house). In the 19070’s a guesthouse was added (and maybe a pool) at the southwest corner of the house. Seeing this pre 1970’s images really shows how much the approach of the house has been altered. You now enter the house from the northeast side of the house which is behind and left of where i was standing in the top inmage. Oh and yes, in case you are wondering… that blue is original. It’s not a frequently used color in Wright’s portfolio. Do you like it?

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Raymond Carlson House. Phoenix, Arizona. Photograph by John Amarantides.

Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you have a questions or thoughts in the comments below.