Saturday, June 24, 2017

Article on architect Paul Williams

http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-architect-of-hollywood/

'Williams had an impeccable sense of scale, and he knew just how to situate a structure on a property to make the best use possible of beautiful views and sunlight. He helped create what some have called the “Hollywood Style” — that opulent mixture of Mediterranean, European, and Colonial influences with swimming pools and sweeping staircases. It was rich but classy, opulent but tasteful.
Still, some clients were taken aback when they first met Williams — people who “came because they may have read about him,” Karen Hudson explains, “but didn’t realize he was black.” They weren’t sure whether to sit next to him or even whether to shake his hand. To put them at ease, Williams would keep his distance, sitting across the table from them, and as he asked them what they wanted in their home,  he would draw preliminary sketches upside down, so they could see their vision evolve as he drew. This helped put them at ease but was also just impressive in itself.'

No comments: