SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. â The Arizona desert home of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright remained temporarily closed to the public on Wednesday after part of a roof blew off in high winds, killing a visitor from Brazil who was touring the historic property last week.Visitor killed by piece of roof blown off Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home in ArizonaWitnesses say RogĂ©rio Renato Mateucci, 55, was struck in the head and died instantly Friday, according to police in Scottsdale, east of Phoenix. He was killed by a piece of plexiglass roofing, said Sgt.
Allison Sempsis, a police spokesperson.Wind gusts of up to 38 mph were recorded at the Scottsdale Airport that day, according to the National Weather Service.The 1937 home and surrounding compound, called Taliesin West, have low-slung roofs and rock walls that appear to blend into the surrounding desert. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the property draws up to 100,000 visitors a year, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, its owner.
It served as Wright's winter home as well as a âdesert laboratoryâ for his students.The foundation said in a statement following Mateucci's death that the property was closed to the public âuntil further notice.â A foundation spokesperson did not respond to an email Wednesday asking when tours would resume.Mateucci worked as the senior administrator at the Pontifical Catholic University of ParanĂĄ, located in the Brazilian city of Curitiba. In a statement, the school said he was its rector and a lay member of the Catholic order of Marist priests and brothers.
He was from the city of SĂŁo Paulo.The school said Mateucci was visiting the U.S. to attend an international program at Arizona State University.Wright's foundation offered its condolences Saturday, saying on social media that it wouldnât comment further while thereâs an active police investigation. Sempsis said the police investigation doesnât prevent the site from reopening.This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

