PAUL LASZLO: INTERIORS | EXTERIORS
Paul Laszlo Industrial Designer
Paul László
Paul László: PAUL LASZLO: INTERIORS | EXTERIORS [Paul Laszlo Industrial Designer]. Beverly Hills: Paul László, 1947. First (only) edition, unknown limitation. Oblong quarto. Thick laminated covers. Wire spiral binding. 102 pp. 186 black and white photographs and 23 diagrams. INSCRIBED by László on the limitation page. Cover design by Paul László (naturally). Upper and lower covers uniformly sunned and lightly delaminated along fore edges. Former owners sticker to blank front free endpaper. One leaf faintly creased from a bindery error, but a very good or better copy. Scarce book and rare signed.
The apparent plan to release this edition signed and numbered was abandoned since no signed/numbered copies have appeared on the market. This copy inscribed “To B + S with best / wishes/ Paul Laszlo” in the area where the numerical limitation block was printed.
10 x 6.5 spiral-bound booklet with 102 pages, 186 black and white photographs and 23 diagrams, showcasing Paul László’s work as an architect, interior designer and industrial designer. Foreword by George Nelson. “Julis Shulman, Los Angles, took most of the photographs published in this book. (He believes he is the “best in the world.”).”
This lavish volume was self-published by László’s office in 1947 as an elaborate self-promotion to trumpet their services to high-end clients. Designed and letterpress printed in Los Angeles, this book is absolutely gorgeous in every aspect, from the cover and binding to the interior layouts and typography and photography by Julius Shulman.
Paul László’s (Hungary, February 1900 – Santa Monica, CA, March 1993) reputation as “the Millionaire's Architect” is on full display in the myriad of the residential comissions presented in this volume. All aspects of Laszlo’s design work from 1937 to 1947 is represented, including the Mayo, Greer, Schiff, Matray, Harrison, Rosenson, Finer, Illing, de Stakosch, Philipp, Reiss, Blanke, Springer, Lowewendahl, Laszlo, and Keating residences; details from the Beverly Hills Hotel, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Federal Department Store, Walter Marks Office, Eddy Harths, the Crenshaw Movie Theatre, the Bettye Lee shop, the Desert Combers Club, Dreamville, a propsed airline office, the László showroom; as well as individual photographs of multiple Laszlo furniture designs.
In 1948, George Nelson described László's designs as having "generous dimensions, great elegance of appearance, and impeccable taste,” all of which translated easily to the glamorous Hollywood life-style. The same year László joined with George Nelson, Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi to design for the Herman Miller Furniture Company. The furniture lines presented by Herman Miller from 1948 have been called the most influential groups of furniture ever manufactured. Nevertheless, László was not pleased with the arrangement and the relationship ended in 1952.
“People would hire him, go to Europe and come back six or nine months later to find the paintings on the wall, the toilet paper on the roller and slippers by the bed” remembers Julius Shulman.
Asked once what his style was, he responded it is “Laszlo style”. He felt that his homes should have a certain distinction, one that could not be easily duplicated. He credits this as having a balance between the specific needs of his clients and the want to "accomplish comfort, to please the people without the mere shock value". Laszlo always considered his clients first and foremost, maintaining simplicity in the elegance of the furnishings with the luxury of the home. Laszlo best stated in 1952, “I don't try to design look-at-me houses. I try to give the modern style an ageless importance, to be ahead of my time and yet build a comfortable home.”