Wright, who was always in favor of using local resources, would build Taliesin West primarily out of "desert masonry": local rock arranged in wooden forms and joined by a combination of cement and desert sand. By integrating his structures inside the terrain, Wright intended to maintain as much of the desert ecosystem as possible. He also used parts of the quarry as a parking lot and for other purposes not related to the building itself. Taliesin West was built over an extended period of time (1922-41). It consists of three main buildings: the studio, the library, and the house. The studio is where Wright designed most of his works; the library holds more than 4,000 books; and the house is where he lived with his family. All three buildings are constructed out of stone that was either taken from nearby or shipped in from other locations. The site also includes several gardens, one of which is open to the public. Wright first proposed building Taliesin West near the small town of Phoenix, Arizona. He wanted to use local materials because he believed this would help keep construction costs down and would also allow him to preserve the environment. Some of the rocks used for the building's exterior were even brought to the site by members of the public. Taliesin West is estimated to be between 20,000 and 25,000 pounds (9,091 and 11,308 kg).