Paul Revere Williams (1894-1980) was a pioneering African-American LA architect who designed myriad celebrity homes, churches, municipal buildings and hotels. His designs include private estates for Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball, the Los Angeles County Courthouse, the Beverly Hills Hotel and the iconic modernist Theme Building at LAX. A master of proportional space, his designs were characteristically balanced, intimate and elegant. Further, he always endeavored to seamlessly integrate a building into its natural environment.

 

Good architecture should reduce human tension by creating a restful environment and by changing social patterns.

 

—Paul Williams

 

Originally built in 1927, this Spanish Colonial Revival home has been lovingly restored in the spirit of its famous architect while upgrading all infrastructure, wiring and plumbing to modern standards. One of only two Paul Williams homes in Ojai, it perfectly encapsulates his values of balance, purpose and proportion to create an intimate family home that takes full advantage of its ideal location and natural environment, including views of the Topa Topa mountains. With 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, an office, a detached studio, a pool and an expansive veranda, it combines spaciousness, functionality and aesthetics in a rare blend. Custom original tiles decorate the many fireplaces and bathrooms, designed to integrate with the architecture. The lush grounds include a grape arbor, an orchard and a bocce court. The beauty and wholeness of this truly unique home will bring effortless peace to your heart.

 

On NPR: A Trailblazing Black Architect Who Helped Shape L.A.

 

The Ojai Quarterly: Paul Williams and the Building of the American Dream