Dome

Interior, built-in black walnut shelving by Manuel Sandoval; The store was used by Wright as a physical prototype, or proof of concept, for the circular ramp at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Xanadu Gallery, which closed in August 2015, spent a significant sum to restore the building to Wright's vision (and to retrofit it for air conditioning). All of the built-in furniture constructed out of black walnut is original, and was designed by Manuel Sandoval, who apprenticed and worked with Frank Lloyd Wright. When questioned by the owner about the omission of traditional store-front windows on the facade of the building, Wright replied: “We are not going to dump your beautiful merchandise on the street, but create an arch-tunnel of glass, into which the passers-by may look and be enticed. As they penetrate further into the entrance, seeing the shop inside with its spiral ramp and tables set with fine china and crystal, they will suddenly push open the door, and you’ve got them!” Source: Wright on the Web [website]; http://www.wrightontheweb.net/ (accessed 8/16/2015)