Architect Legend: Paul R. Williams
Paul R. Williams is one of the most prolific architects that many of us have never heard of or seldom hear about. His most famous design, The Beverly Hills Hotel, has been a staple of the rich and famous when traveling to Los Angeles for over a century.
What you may not know is that about Paul Williams though is that although he redesigned iconic hotel to its famous facade of today, he could never stay there.
Why?
Because he was Black (sigh).
Once again, racism shows itself to be stupid. But I digress.
Let’s celebrate the man for his extraordinary skillset and thank him for truly shaping the landscape of LA. By the time of his death in 1980, he had a hand in over 3,000 structures across the city.
Prolific indeed.
He was also well known for building homes for the rich and famous. From NPR:
Williams built an elegant bachelor pad for Frank Sinatra when the singer was between marriages. Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz were clients. So was Cary Grant. Danny Thomas was both client and friend — Williams designed St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis gratis, as a favor to Thomas (and made Thomas promise not to tell, so he wasn't deluged with similar requests). In recent years, Denzel Washington, Ellen DeGeneres and Andy Garcia all have lived in Williams homes.
Some of his other famous works are:
La Concha Motel, The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, NV
Aaron Lilien Residence, Los Angeles, CA
Hotel Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
Los Angeles County Courthouse
The Bruce and Lula E. Blackburn House
Some good reads to get your week started (been busy so I couldn’t get these out on Friday):