Paul R Williams, Architect - Hardcover

Karen E. Hudson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0847817636 ISBN 13: 9780847817634

Publisher: Rizzoli, 1993

Synopsis

One of the most important Los Angeles architects, Paul R. Williams' prolific career extended from the 1920s to the 1970s. His vast body of built work stretches across the world from Paris and Colombia to Washington, D.C., New York, and Memphis. However, the Los Angeles area was his personal and professional focus. Overcoming incredible prejudice in an all-white field, Williams became the first African American admitted to the A.I.A and designed over 3,000 projects, including the Jetsons-like theme building at Los Angeles International Airport, Saks Fifth Avenue and W. & J. Sloane's department stores in Beverly Hills, the famous Beverly Hills and Ambassador hotels, and renowned celebrity haunts, such as Chasen's and Perino's restaurants. He also designed mansions for Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Tyrone Power, William "Bojangles" Robinson, Lon Chaney, and other entertainers. While Williams had extraordinary facility with the historical styles popular in southern California at the time, he was equally adept at modern design, as seen in his work for Fisk and Howard universities, Saint Jude Hospital in Memphis, and several banks, churches, and country clubs. Karen E. Hudson, a third-generation Angeleno, is the granddaughter of Paul R. Williams and director of his archives. She chronicles the African-American experience in Los Angeles in writings and photographs. David Gebhard, the renowned historian, was a professor of architectural history and Curator of the Architectural Drawing Collection of the Art Museum at the University of Santa Barbara. Call-out: The first architectural monograph of Williams' extraordinary and inspiring achievements.

About this title

Reviews

One of the most prominent African-American architects in America, Williams was one of very few to attain fellowship status in the American Institute of Architects. He practiced in his native city, Los Angeles, for 50 years, from the 1920s to the 1960s, during which time he designed all manner of commissions: from trendy restaurants to post offices to private residences, including that of Frank Sinatra. Stylistically, his work ran the gamut from the most conservative historic revivalism to the most futuristic modern design. This loving tribute and compendium of his work is presented to us by his granddaughter. Recommended for academic libraries and large architecture collections.
- Peter Kaufman, Boston Architectural Ctr.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rizzoli
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0847817636
• ISBN 13: 9780847817634
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240