The Rose Pauson House was a stunning example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic desert architecture, tragically lost to a fire just one year after its completion in 1942.
Commissioned by the artist sisters Rose and Gertrude Pauson, the house was nestled on a hilltop in Phoenix, Arizona, offering breathtaking desert views.
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Wright described the site as “the most wonderful Earth site” and designed the house to harmoniously blend with its natural surroundings.
Characterized by its horizontal lines, cantilevered terraces, and extensive use of glass, the Pauson House was a masterpiece of indoor-outdoor living. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the house, leaving only its iconic chimney (“Shiprock”)as a reminder of its existence.
The original stone fireplace remains and was moved to be used as a landmark for the entrance to the Alta Vista Park Estates.
The other remaining artifacts are the letters of Frank Lloyd Wright and Rose Pauson between 1938 and 1943. These 50+ letters are now published in a book (available through Amazon) with rare photographs and Wright’s drawings of the home.
Location of Pauson House ruins
The ruins are located at the GPS coordinates of 33.519703, -112.013319
Phoenix Area Hotels
- Arizona Biltmore
- Cambria Hotel Downtown Phoenix Convention Center
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
- Staybridge Suites Phoenix – Biltmore Area
