New interactive virtual reality technology brings the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright home to all corners of the world.

As most locals and in-the-know visitors to Arizona can attest, Taliesin West is one of the prized gems in the crown of the Valley’s architectural identity. Established in 1937, this unique example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s modern aesthetic served as the architect’s winter home and the location of the Taliesin Fellowship.

If you haven’t had the chance to visit and wander through the magnificent crimson music pavilion or admire the structural artistry of the garden living room, now you have no excuse to continue putting off your tour.

While the Arizona property attracts more than 100,000 tourists each year, now you can explore Taliesin West from anywhere in the world through accurate and detailed 3D models of the physical site.

Leica Geosystems, an industry leader in measurement technology, has announced a partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to capture, document and deliver immersive

3D experiences featuring the iconic architect’s designs. Taliesin West is the first property that will be made available.

The online Taliesin West experience goes beyond traditional 3D renderings, documentation and virtual online tours by capturing the property from every dimension–the exterior grounds and the interior home, along with architectural details, including floor plans.

“True to our mission, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is dedicated to preserving Taliesin West for future generations. Through our partnership with Leica Geosystems, we’re able to carry our mission and Wright’s vision into the future by making Taliesin West available to the world so people can experience his ideas, architecture and design in new ways,” says Stuart Graff, president and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Preserving and Sharing Frank Lloyd Wright’s Vision Through Technology

The technology that was used to transform Taliesin West into an immersive online experience includes the Leica BLK360, Multivista construction documentation services and the Matterport 3D cloud platform.

The Leica BLK360 was used to capture the property. It is the world’s smallest, fastest and most simple to use 3D imaging laser scanner. The BLK360 provides the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation with data in two ways: The first is the 360-degree spherical imagery that feeds the visual experience. The second comes in the form of a point cloud, a dimensionally accurate laser reproduction of the property that can be used for the Foundation’s preservation efforts. The point cloud can even be loaded in popular CAD and BIM software for highly accurate renovations and careful design changes should the need arise.

Multivista, a global provider of progressive construction documentation and software services, provided expert construction documentation services to capture Taliesin West and compile the data.

Leica Geosystems’ partner Matterport, a 3D media technology company, provided its Matterport Pro2 camera and cloud platform. Matterport makes it easy to create, modify and navigate immersive 3D versions of real-world spaces. Both the BLK360 and the Matterport Pro2 camera feed visual data into the Matterport cloud platform, where the Taliesin West virtual tour is experienced.

Designed for architects, architectural enthusiasts, design lovers and curious explorers, the self-guided virtual tour of Taliesin West delivers unprecedented access to Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter camp and desert laboratory in Arizona. It allows visitors to roam from room to room, walk the gardens and zoom in on the expansive collection of sculptures that adorn the property.

Learn more and take the virtual tour of Taliesin West at franklloydwright.org/3DLAB.