Our tour travels west to east after beginning in vibrant San Francisco to see the very latest in contemporary architecture; we then travel south to Los Angeles and then east to Phoenix, Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Columbus, Niagara Falls and New York.
We pride ourselves in achieving a high percentage of return guests and whilst some are architects, most just enjoy the variety of buildings, urban spaces and people, which all help to create the camaraderie and fun on all of our renowned architecture tours. We have included exceptional buildings, many with guided tours, providing a balance of new and old classics. We have also allowed additional time for participants to individually enjoy personal interests, or time to enjoy galleries, visit museums and share the sheer pleasures these beautiful places have to offer. At the time the brochure was prepared, a few places on the Itinerary have still not opened post- Covid. If they have not opened by the time of the tour, where possible they will be replaced by buildings of comparable architecture quality.
A professional development opportunity. Limit of 32 participants, so book early.
Malcolm Carver (AIA AWI) is an Architect and former Principal of Scott Carver Architects, a highly successful Sydney based practice which has won numerous awards for their work including the RAIA National Environment Award. Over the past 40 years Malcolm has travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and the Americas having led over 14 Travelrite Tours. His passion for architecture is only matched by a keen interest in sketching and painting and he has many solo exhibitions of his work. His sketches appear online at www.carverstudio.com
DAY 1 Thursday 2 May 2024 San Francisco, USA
Arrival day in San Francisco. Check in is available after 3:00pm (Flight and
pre tour accommodation options are available). This evening join Malcolm
for welcome drinks.
DAY 2 Friday 3 May 2024 San Francisco
Enjoy an exciting start to the tour as we visit Apple Park Visitor Centre
in Cupertino. Followed by Hanna House, Stanford a Frank Lloyd Wright
masterpiece subject to its re-opening post-COVID. After time for lunch we
continue our tour and see the Twisting MIRA Tower in Mission Bay, San
Francisco (Studio Gang) and a photo stop at Wright’s V C Morris Gift Shop.
There will be free time late afternoon.
DAY 3 Saturday 4 May 2024 Los Angeles
We fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles and visit Wright’s recently-restored
Hollyhock House—Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles commission and
an ode to California—its freedom and natural beauty. Followed by Stahl
House a modernist-styled house designed by architect Pierre Koenig in the
Hollywood Hills subject to its re-opening post-COVID.
DAY 4 Sunday 5 May 2024 Los Angeles
This morning we visit Frank Gehry’s 2003 Walt Disney Concert Hall – the
project was completed after the famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao,
Spain. The similarity of curved titanium clad, free form roof and walls, makes
a striking vista in its downtown LA context. The concert hall seats 2,265
people and the acoustics have been highly acclaimed by the LA Philharmonic
Orchestra. We follow this with a visit to The Broad Gallery (Diller Scofidio +
Renfro ) and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles (Moneao) a dynamic,
contemporary Cathedral with virtually no right angles.
DAY 5 Monday 6 May 2024 Phoenix
We fly to Phoenix this morning. We begin with a visit to Wright’s First Christian
Church, followed by Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Wright’s winter home and
school and now home to the Taliesin Fellowship, for the comprehensive
‘Behind the Scenes’ tour. Taliesin reads as part of the surrounding desert
and mountain landscape. Finally, we will visit the Arizona Biltmore Hotel,
which uses Wright’s textile block technology.
DAY 6 Tuesday 7 May 2024 Bartlesville
We fly to Oklahoma City and travel by coach to Bartlesville, the home
of Wrights Price Tower, the only fully realized skyscraper designed by
Frank Lloyd Wright, a 19-storey landmark completed in 1956. All available
accommodation has been booked at Price Tower. They will be allotted to
those who book first. All others will be located in a nearby hotel or motel in
Bartlesville.
DAY 7 Wednesday 8 May 2024 Milwaukee
This morning we travel to Tulsa Airport for our flight to Chicago and onto
Milwaukee. On route we visit the Greek Annunciation Church for an evening
photo. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956, and completed in 1961, it
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is one of
Wright’s last works with construction completed after his death.
DAY 8 Thursday 9 May 2024 Milwaukee
Firstly, we visit Santiago Calatrava’s 2001 Quadracci Pavilion at the
Milwaukee Art Museum – Calatrava’s buildings located over the lake reflects
his early training in structural engineering and study of skeletal forms in fine
art. This art museum is a triumph with striking shapes reaching above the
gallery making iconic forms on the skyline. The wings of the brise soleil can
move and, when open, the structure appears, from the city side, to be a giant
gull about to take flight above the lake. In the afternoon we visit Wright’s
Wingspread, the 1936 HJ Johnson house that nestles in 16 hectares on
Wind Point, a peninsula on the western shore of Lake Michigan near Racine.
The house in now used as a conference centre and the visit is subject to
there being no conferences on this day. We continue onto Wright’s exquisite
1936 SC Johnson Administration Building (often termed the Johnson Wax
Building) in Racine. The ‘great workroom’ has been called one of Wright’s
‘most astonishing places’. We can now visit the recently-opened Research
Tower; Wright’s first cantilevered high rise structure.
DAY 9 Friday 10 May 2024 West Madison
Subject to the agreement of the private owner, we then visit Wright’s
delightful Jacobs1 house in Madison. We then move through the Wisconsin
countryside to Spring Green to visit Wright’s 1911 Taliesin residence, later the
summer home of the Taliesin Fellowship. Taliesin, which rests on the brow
of a hill overlooking the Wisconsin River, has been described as Wright’s
autobiography in wood and stone.
DAY 10 Saturday 11 May 2024 Chicago
This morning we visit Petit Mortuary, Belvedere and Wrights Laurent House.
The single-story Usonian home is a rare mid-century design featuring a
solar hemicycle footprint, and is considered one of the most well-preserved
Wright homes in existence. We travel to Plano to visit Mies van der Rohe’s
1951 Farnsworth House, one of the most famous examples of modernist
domestic architecture.
DAY 11 Sunday 12 May 2024 Chicago
A morning visit to the 1904 Unity Temple, the ‘first significant American
architectural statement in poured concrete’. Followed by Coonley House,
Riverside (subject to owner’s permission). After free time for lunch we visit
Chicago’s Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago’s Modern wing and
FLW collection.
DAY 12 Monday 13 May 2024 Chicago
We travel by coach to spend the day in suburban Chicago, starting with
Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1889-1909 Home & Studio. Wright constructed the
house for himself and his family while working for the Chicago firm of Adler
and Sullivan. It is the oldest extant building attributed wholly to Wright. This
will be followed by a tour of the area surrounding the Home & Studio which
contains the world’s largest concentration of Wright-designed structures.
We have an in depth visit to Wright’s 1906 Robie House which is considered
his masterpiece of the Prairie Style.
DAY 13 Tuesday 14 May 2024 Grand Rapids
Departing Chicago we head towards Grand Rapids stopping at Meyer May
House for a tour. It is considered a fine example of Wright’s Prairie School
era, and “Michigan’s Prairie masterpiece”
DAY 14 Wednesday 15 May 2024 Columbus
We travel to Lansing and visit Broad Gallery MSU (Hadid), a contemporary
art museum on the Michigan State University campus. We continue onto
Columbus and see Zaherako’s Ice Cream Parlour, a wonderful olde world
experience.
DAY 15 Thursday 16 May 2024 Wheeling
This morning we visit Eero Saarinen’s delightful 1957 Miller House for a tour
of the house and 5 hectare garden. The house is one of the most significant
examples of modern domestic architecture in the world. We continue onto
Wheeling.
DAY 16 Friday 17 May 2024 Fallingwater
An early start by coach takes us to Bear Run to see one of the tour highlights,
Wright’s 1935 Fallingwater, which was built as a weekend retreat for Edgar
J Kaufmann. The house, considered Wright’s masterwork, is his greatest
expression of organic architecture – the union of the structure and the land
upon which it was built. We then tour Wright’s nearby 1956 Kentuck Knob,
before returning to Uniontown.
DAY 17 Saturday 18 May 2024 Niagara Falls
We travel to Niagara Falls via Wrights Darwin D Martin House Complex
and the Greatbatch Pavilion Visitors Centre, Buffalo. Wright designed the
complex as an integrated composition of connecting buildings, consisting
of the primary building, the Martin House, a long pergola connecting with a
conservatory, a carriage house-stable, and a smaller residence. The Visitor
Centre was completed in 2009 by Toshiko Mori.
DAY 18 Sunday 19 May 2024 New York
We travel to Buffalo for a flight to New York. Upon arrival we visit the Chrysler
building lobby, followed by Wright’s 1956 Guggenheim Museum, described
as one of the great architectural spaces of the 20th century.
DAY 19 Monday 20 May 2024 New York
This morning we visit Philip Johnson’s iconic 1949 Glass House in New
Canaan – iconic because of its innovative use of materials and its seamless
integration into the landscape. Returning to the city we enjoy a tour of NYC
architecture including the stunning World Trade Centre Transportation Hub
(Santiago Calatrava) and sections of the High Line lineal park, where we will
see The Shed (DS + RN), the 11th Twisting Towers (BIG) and the New Whitney
Museum of American Art (Renzo Piano). We also see the New MoMA and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art (Frank Lloyd Wright room). The extent of this
tour will be dependent on New York traffic. All will be photo stops. We enjoy
a Farewell Dinner in the evening.
DAY 20 Tuesday 21 May 2024 Departure
We transfer to the airport for our flights back to Australia and New Zealand.
| TWIN FARE PER PERSON | SINGLE FARE |
|---|---|
| $12,990 | $16,890 |
Touring can involve a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing in the places visited and it is important that all tour participants have a level of physical fitness that allows them to take part in this tour without the need of assistance from others.
TOUR OPERATOR:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd (ABN
64 005 817 078) is the tour organiser. All passengers must
complete and sign a Travelrite International booking form.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT:
A non-refundable deposit of
$1000 per passenger should be sent with a completed
Travelrite International booking. As soon as the booking
is confirmed, (usually within 24 hours), a confirmation
advice will be posted to the client. A further deposit of
$1500 is due by 2 January 2024. Final payments are due
to be paid to Travelrite International 60 days prior to the
commencement of the tour. A 1.5% administration fee will
be added to payments by credit card.
CANCELLATION CHARGES: * Cancellation conditions don’t apply for clients with future cruise/tour credits. Cruise/tour credits are non-refundable.
| Days prior to Departure | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|
| Over 120 days | $1000 per person |
| 120 – 61 days | $2500 per person |
| 60 days for less | 100% of full fare |
REFUNDS:
The tour is based on arrangements that
do not allow for any refunds in respect to sightseeing,
accommodation, meals, airfare or other services not
utilised after the tour has commenced.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
All passengers will require a
valid passport. If you hold another passport please check
with Travelrite International. ESTA visas will be required
for the USA.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Adequate travel insurance is
highly recommended to cover tour members for the
consequences of unforeseen events during the tour and
for cancellation fees which could result from events such
as illness, accident, death etc.
BAGGAGE:
All passengers qualify for 1 piece free
baggage allowance.
MINIMUM TOUR NUMBERS & CONDITIONS:
The tour has been priced on the basis of a minimum number of
passengers having booked 60 days prior to departure.
Travelrite reserves the right to cancel the tour, giving a full
refund of all monies paid or offer arrangements to proceed
with the tour at a modified cost. Travelrite International reserves the right to change advertised entrances if
necessary for the smooth operation of the tour.
TOUR PARTICIPATION:
Children under 5 years of age are ineligible on coach & cruise tours. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers with disabilities are welcome on Travelrite & Cruise Offers tours provided they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing all necessary assistance, and do not require special assistance from Travelrite & Cruise Offers personnel. Travelrite and Cruise Offers reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone if it is felt the individual cannot cope with the requirements of coach & cruise tour travel and who may require services and facilities that Travelrite & Cruise Offers cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the Travelrite & Cruise Offers responsible for any decision made by any of them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd.
(ATAS No. A10538) is the tour organiser. Travelrite acts
only as an agent in the making of arrangements for
hotels, transportation, restaurants or any other service
and does not assume any liability whatsoever for any
injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to person
or property due to an act of negligence or a default of
any hotel, carrier restaurant company or person rendering
any services included in the tour, or by act of God. Further
no responsibilities are accepted for any damage or delay
due to sickness, pilferage, labour disputes, machinery
break-down, quarantine, government restraints, weather,
terrorism or other causes beyond their control. No
responsibility is accepted for any additional expense,
omission, delays, re-routing or acts of any government
authority. The passage contract between the carriers
concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract
between the carriers and the purchasers of this tour and/
or the passengers. The right is reserved to withdraw
any tour and/or make such changes in the tour as may
be found desirable or necessary for the convenience of
the parties and the proper carrying out of the tour. This
contract shall be construed in accordance of the laws of
the State of Victoria, Australia and any legal action must
be undertaken in the State of Victoria.
DELAYS AND UNFORESEEN EVENTS:
You engage
Travelrite International to book this tour on your behalf
and you acknowledge that Travelrite International acts as
your agent for the purpose of making contracts between
you and the various providers of accommodation,
transportation and other services that comprise the tour.
Travelrite may without reference to you provide or make
available to you, or may as your agent engage any third
party to provide or make available to you, any good or
service which Travelrite reasonably believes is necessary
for your benefit to maintain the tour itinerary, repatriate
you or otherwise accommodate, transport or sustain you
in circumstances in which the tour itinerary fails wholly or
partly for any reason. You appoint Travelrite International your attorney for this purpose. You agree to pay Travelrite
any cost thereof and you indemnify Travelrite in respect
of any cost it incurs in this regard. Travelrite advises you
to obtain travel insurance generally including in respect
of the risk that any such good or service may become
required.
HOW TO BOOK:
Bookings can be made by sending full
names and addresses of intending tour members with a
deposit of $1000 to:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd
423 Whitehorse Road
Balwyn, Victoria 3103
Further information or a booking form can be obtained
by contacting Travelrite International on the following
numbers:
Toll Free: 1800 630 343
Phone: (03) 8803 6868
Email: sales@travelrite.com.au
www.travelrite.com.au
ABOUT TRAVELRITE INTERNATIONAL:
Travelrite
International Pty Ltd (ABN 64 005 817 078) is a wellestablished
travel company which has been operating
in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for more than
40 years. It is fully ATAS accredited: A10538 and has a
fully accredited IATA office in Balwyn Victoria. As such,
it directly represents the major airlines of the world and
all major domestic and international tour and transport
operators. Travelrite International has been operating
special interest tours for 30 years, and now runs over
120 tours a year. Travelrite International Pty Ltd is a full
member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents –
AFTA.
“Many thanks to you both (and Travelrite) for a fantastic US tour! A very memorable experience indeed…and nice to meet all the Tour group as well!”
“What a delight and privilege it was for me to spend that time soaking in amazing architecture with such a lovely, interesting group of people. I enjoyed meeting all of you.”
