The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, as a means of providing its students with hands-on learning experiences, is working with the Garden of the Gods Sculpture Center, a non-profit arts organization in Santa Fe, New Mexico to design a public Sculpture Center on a breathtaking 35-acre property just south of Santa Fe along the scenic Turquoise Trail.

Presentation boards, models and master plans are part of an exhibit the students and faculty produced for the public relations and fund-raising phase of the project. The $11 million project, when complete, will house 6-10 resident artists, staff, studio workshop space, and a public gallery/exhibition space for the artists in residence.

The project applies in-depth research in sustainability to produce a design for the clients that includes passive solar heating, cooling, and ventilation, photo voltaic electricity, local building materials, and indigenous design references. The design intends to celebrate the natural qualities of the site by creating a dialog with the natural landforms and framing distant views. As well, the clients intend to set aside portions of the property as a conservation easement and enhance a natural wetland spring on the property.

The School considers proposals from organizations interested in collaborating on designs related to sustainability, social responsibility, and arts/culture. Other projects we've worked on include the Mississippi project for post-Katrina housing, an Orphanage near Pondicherry, India, and collaborations with the American Institute of Architects' initiatives to envision the future of two Western towns: Lake Havasu City, AZ and Mountain Green, UT.


- Victor Sidy
Dean of Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture

12-07 Southwest Art Magazine Article

11-1-07 Taliesin Phase 2

Alexander Dzurec, Principle of Autotroph Architecture firm in Santa Fe, traveled with Warren and Kevin to Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ. to continue the next phase of design develpment. Updated presentations were made and students were interviewed for an apprentice exchange program. Above photos depict two of the many "shelters" designed and built by students that live at Taliesin West.

10-17-07 Executive Architect joins team

One year after purchasing the land, we have officially added an Executive Architect to our team. Santa Fe resident Alexander Dzurec, Principle of Autotroph Design: an architecture, planning and consulting firm evolved from Mazria Odems Dzurec, has been a long time leader in the field of sustainable design. Alexander will be assisting in the next phases of architectural planning, further developing the concepts established by the Frank Lloyd Wright School. We are very excited for this to begin our second year of "Cultivating the Garden."

6-8-07 Newspaper Article

Concept Drawings and Models

These concept drawings for the primary Studio/Exhibition space were rendered and concieved by the Taliesin Apprentices. Their design challenge was to create a building that merges naturally with the landscape, stands up to LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and architecturaly relates to the area. An amazing topographical model of the site affords the opportunity to view the layout of the art center with great detail. Click on these images to make them larger.

Taliesin at the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden!

Garden Party

Dossett McCullough rolled out the red carpet at his Houston home this week to introduce Kevin and the Garden of the Gods Project to his close friends who have homes in Santa Fe. Partners in the project Warren Cullar and his wife Kitty were there as well John and Susan Whitmire. Among those attending were Lynn Wyatt, Helen and Alan Buckwalter, Letty and David Knapp, Lynda and David Underwood, Julie and Markley Crosswell, Margaret and Dr. Jeff Lanier and B.A. Bentsen, Sara Beth and Dexter Peacock, Nancy Allen, Kitty Neuhas, Christina Girard and many more. Kevin was in visiting Houston for the Bayou City Art Festival that awarded him "Best In Show" and for a One Man Show opening at Thornwood Gallery throughout the month of April, chosen by Southwest Art Magazine as "Best of the West" shows to see in Texas.

Design Phase March 2007

Visiting Taliesin West on my way to California, I was delighted to see the progress made by the students. Their focus has been on designing the Studio Gallery within the master plan. I saw a variety of models and designs and was able to sit in on their Sustainable Design class where they are learning about the practices usefull to the Santa Fe area.

Taliesin West and the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture visited Santa Fe for a round-table that far exceeded our expectations. We walked the site with board members Bob Douglass and Dossett McCullough as well as local architects and builders. The following day was spent in the round-table with local participants and intense design exercises. Victor Sidy, the Dean of Taliesin proved himself exceptional in orchestrating the charette. He addressed our needs, identified solutions and brought out the talented perspective of his apprentices. The process effectively changed our minds, inspired ideas we had not thought of, re-arranged the potential of the site and ultimately confirmed in us a clear vision for an art center in the Garden of the Gods. The apprentices have returned to Scottsdale to begin their designs for the Garden and we look forward to unveiling them in May on their annual migration North.

Design Charrette

Saturday, January 20th 2007 beginning at 9:00 AM. Participating individuals include:

• Warren Cullar and Kevin Box:Founders of Garden of the Gods Art Center
• Dr. Robert Douglass, FAIA, FACHA: Architect, founding board member
• Dossett McCullough: Founding board member and fundraiser.
• David Dodge: Frank Lloyd Wright Apprentice and Taliesin Architect
• Victor Sidy, Dean of The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture
• Taliesin Apprentices:
• Thai Blackburn
• Christian Butler
• Marsha Fader
• Jeff Graham
• Russell Mahoney
• Nick Mancusi
• Marietta Pagkalou
• Ada Rose Williams
• Scott Irving: Wisdom Design and Build LLC
• Alexander Dzurec: of Autotroph, architecture: Mazria Odems Dzurec
• John Padilla: AIA Padilla and Associates Architects
• Marc Simmons: writer and neighboring land owner
• Lynn McLane: President, Turquoise Trail Association
• Stephen Yadzinski: Big Swing photographer
• Nai Smith: Stoneridge Realty, local resident
• Phillip Haozous: artist and designer of Allan Houser Sculpture Garden

First Steps

We are taking the first steps in defining the boundaries of design, ideas and structure placement for the Garden of the Gods site. A select group of graduate apprentices and senior faculty from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation at Taliesin West have been invited to Santa Fe January 20-24, to walk the site and udertake initial design preperations. We need assistance in the following areas:

• TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS FOR THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FOUNDATION.
accomplished, Thanks to Bob and Darlene Douglass, Ross and Tina Richardson and Syd Popinsky.

• A SITE FOR HOSTING ONE DAY OF ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS.
accomplished, Thanks to the Allan Houser Foundation

• TALIESIN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE HOST
accomplished, Thanks to Louisa Sarofim and the Polmood Estate.

Donations suppliment costs involved in the project and afford the donor Membership and respectful benefits with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Hosts and Participants, please contact Kevin Box @ 512.557.2538 or kevin@outsidetheboxstudio.com

Winter in the Garden

The Wright Style

After another visit to Taliesin West and an overnite stay at the Price Tower in Oklahoma, I have seen Wrights Organic philosophy in action. These live/work designs are a good match to our vision and I believe the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architectures approach to the project could result in a meaningfull, inspirational and functional space. We have begun plans to bring a select group of Taliesin Graduate students to Santa Fe in January to walk the property and define the boundaries of design through roundtable discussions. Looking to host these guests and a site for discussions, Phase 2 begins.......

11-6-06 Meeting at Taliesin West with the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture

After a very productive meeting at Taliesin West with Philip Allsopp, CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and his staff, we have established a great start for developing a master plan through the F.L.W. School of Architecture. Victor Sidy, Dean of the Architecture School (white shirt) embraced our vision and the idea of proposing the challenge to the students for an initial approach. Joseph Payton, a Denver real estate developer relocating to Scottsdale set up the meeting (blue shirt) and watches on as Victor and I share the photos and proposed site plan with the students.