Kurt Haas Homes

Following up on my previous Paul Revere Williams posts with more exteriors of some of his stunning houses. Williams designed homes for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz -- mastering a wide range of styles to accommodate his customers, including: Spanish Revival, Modern, Tudor, Colonial, and French Chateau and Normandy, all of which helped shape much of the LA landscape I love. At the outset of his career, a teacher tried to convince Williams not to pursue a career in architecture because the white patrons of Southern California wouldn’t hire him and the Black community wouldn’t be able to provide enough work for him. Williams overcame innumerous obstacles to become one of the most prolific architects in America and pave the way for other architects of color. Photo Breakdown: 1. William Banning Residence, Hancock Park, 1929 (photo: Alex Elliot) 2. Bachman Residence, S. Hudson St., Hancock Park, 1927 (photo: ?) 3. Alfred...

Portrait by Anna Higgie for The LA Times. Paul R. Williams was born in Los Angeles on February 18, 1894. Known as the “architect to the stars,” Williams designed over 2,000 homes in his more than 50-year career for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. His name is also associated with iconic LA architecture like the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Los Angeles County Courthouse, LAX, and the Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue. Williams was the first Black person to graduate from USC (in 1919) and opened his own firm in 1923, becoming the first African American member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1923.   Paul R. Williams was one of the greatest and most prolific American Architects of the 20th Century.   Williams designed homes in neighborhoods where restrictive covenants barred him from living and he designed and expanded hotels that would not admit him as a guest. One widely shared story is that William...