Architecture can be a fickle thing. One year a building is a masterpiece; the next, it’s just a "weird old house" blocking a developer from building three luxury McMansions. Honestly, that’s exactly what almost happened to the David Wright House in Phoenix.
You’ve probably seen photos of it. It’s that strange, circular concrete structure in the Arcadia neighborhood that looks like a prototype for the Guggenheim Museum in New York. And that’s because it basically was. Frank Lloyd Wright designed it for his son, David, and his daughter-in-law, Gladys, in 1950. He called it "How to Live in the Southwest," but most locals just knew it as the "Spiral House."
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For a long time, this place was a ghost.
David and Gladys lived there until they were 102 and 104 years old, respectively. Think about that for a second. They occupied that house for over half a century, watching the surrounding citrus groves—which Wright called "David's Lawn"—slowly disappear under the weight of Phoenix’s urban sprawl. When Gladys passed away in 2008, the house entered a decade of absolute chaos that almost saw it reduced to a pile of rubble.
The Near-Death of an Icon
Most people think famous buildings are automatically protected. They aren't. In 2012, a developer bought the property for $1.8 million with the express intent of tearing it down and splitting the lot.
The bulldozers were quite literally at the gate.
It took a massive, 30,000-signature petition and a last-minute buy from a preservation-minded lawyer named Zach Rawling to save it. But even then, the drama didn't stop. There were plans to turn it into a museum. There were plans to donate it to the School of Architecture at Taliesin. Every single one of those plans died because of "NIMBY" (Not In My Backyard) opposition from neighbors who didn't want tour buses and gift shops on their quiet residential street.
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Fast forward to 2026, and the situation has finally stabilized, though not in the way many expected.
The house is currently owned by Bing Hu, a Scottsdale architect who actually studied at Taliesin, and his wife Wenchin Shi. They bought it in 2020 for about $7.25 million. Unlike the previous owners who wanted to make it a public monument, the Hu family has treated it as a private residence and a massive restoration project. Their daughter, Amanda, spearheaded a lot of the work.
Today, it is protected by a permanent preservation easement held by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. This means that even if it’s sold again, no one can ever tear it down or mess with the "bones" of the design.
Why the Design is Actually Genius
If you look at the David Wright House from the street (though it’s hard to see through the foliage), it looks a bit like a concrete ramp to nowhere.
But Wright wasn’t just being eccentric.
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The house is raised on seven concrete piers. Why? Because in the 1950s, the lot was surrounded by orange trees. By lifting the house, Wright ensured his son could look over the tops of the trees to see Camelback Mountain. It also created a natural "breeze-way" under the house, which, in the days before high-efficiency AC, was the only way to survive a Phoenix summer without melting.
The spiral ramp serves a psychological purpose too. As you walk up, the view of the mountains changes constantly. It’s cinematic.
Inside, it’s all about Philippine mahogany and custom-made concrete blocks. David Wright actually worked for a concrete block company, which is why the house uses that material instead of the wood or stone his father usually preferred. It was a collaboration between a father and a son, which makes the "personal" nature of the architecture feel a lot more real.
Key Architectural Specs:
- Total Square Footage: Roughly 2,500 square feet (plus a small guesthouse).
- Materials: Specially molded concrete blocks, mahogany, and a hand-woven "March Balloons" rug designed by Wright.
- The Roof: It’s actually sheet metal painted turquoise to look like oxidized copper.
- The Layout: It's one room deep. This allows for cross-ventilation in every single part of the house.
Can You Actually Visit?
This is where the "what people get wrong" part comes in.
If you search for "David Wright House tours," you’ll find a lot of old info saying you can book a visit. Currently, the David Wright House is a private residence and is not open for regular public tours. The neighbors won the battle over the museum status. The City of Phoenix has the house zoned as a single-family home. While it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, that doesn't grant the public the right to walk through the living room.
However, Bing Hu has mentioned using the space as a personal studio and occasionally hosting small, invite-only educational events. Every now and then, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy or local architecture groups will secure access for a special event. If you want to see the inside, you have to be very patient and keep a close eye on those specific organizations.
Actionable Insights for Architecture Fans
If you're in Phoenix and want to experience this specific "spiral" era of Wright’s work, don't just show up at the gate of the David Wright House. You'll just see a fence and a "Private Property" sign.
Instead, do this:
- Drive by Exeter Boulevard: You can catch a glimpse of the kitchen tower and the sweeping ramp from the road. Be respectful—it’s a quiet neighborhood.
- Visit Taliesin West: Located in nearby Scottsdale, this was Wright’s winter home and is a fully functioning museum with daily tours. It provides the context you need to understand why he built the David Wright House the way he did.
- Check the "Save Wright" Calendar: The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy (savewright.org) occasionally hosts conferences or benefit dinners that include rare access to private homes like this one.
- Look for the Arizona Biltmore: While not a Wright "home," the Biltmore hotel used his signature "textile block" system and gives you a similar vibe to the David Wright House’s concrete geometry.
The story of the David Wright House isn't just about a building. It's a reminder that even the most significant pieces of American history are only a few years of neglect or one bad real estate deal away from disappearing. Luckily, in 2026, this particular spiral is finally safe.