Paul László facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul László
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| Born | February 6, 1900 |
| Died | March 27, 1993 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | Hungarian, American |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Parent(s) | Soros Regina László Ignac |
| Buildings | Crown Center Bullock's Wilshire |
Paul László (born February 6, 1900 – died March 27, 1993) was a famous architect and interior designer. He was born in Hungary and later became an American citizen. His work lasted for over 80 years and could be seen in many different countries. László first became known for designing the inside of homes. Later, in the 1960s, he mostly designed the interiors of stores and businesses.
About Paul László
Paul László was born as Lamberger Pal in Debrecen, Hungary. His family later moved to another Hungarian city called Szombathely. He had three sisters and two brothers. Sadly, two of his sisters and both of his parents faced great challenges during a difficult time in history.
László finished his schooling in Vienna, Austria. Then he moved to Stuttgart, Germany. There, he quickly became a well-known designer. Even famous artist Salvador Dalí admired his work! However, because he was Jewish, it became dangerous for László to stay in Europe as Nazism grew.
He was offered a job teaching architecture in Chile. But László never actually went there. Instead, his friends helped him hide until 1936. Then, he was able to get on a ship that took him to New York City. It's interesting to know that some of his designs even appeared in Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus, without László knowing about it!
When he arrived in New York City, László bought a car and drove to Southern California. He opened his design office in the wealthy area of Beverly Hills, California. People already knew about László's talent, and he became very popular with rich and famous people, including actors and politicians.
László was known for sticking to his design ideas, but he also had a unique style. He liked to design large furniture. However, for one client who was not very tall, László made all the furniture a little smaller than usual.
In 1948, László worked with other famous designers like George Nelson, Charles Eames, and Isamu Noguchi. They designed furniture for the Herman Miller company. The furniture lines they created from 1948 are considered some of the most important furniture designs ever made. However, László was not happy with the partnership, and it ended in 1952.
From 1941 and for over 25 years, László had his design studio at 362 North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. He rented the whole building and designed everything inside and out, including the furniture and fabrics. His studio also had a small area to show off his work, which helped him become even more famous.
He designed department stores for well-known companies like Bullock's Wilshire, Goldwaters, Robinson's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Halls (Crown Center, Kansas City), Hudson's Bay, and Ohrbach's. He also designed many casinos and showrooms in Las Vegas for hotels owned by Howard Hughes.
László became even more famous for his elegant bomb shelter design, which he created for John D. Hertz. A bomb shelter is a strong, safe place built underground to protect people from bombs or other dangers. He also imagined "Atomville," a futuristic city built underground. A later version of this idea was even suggested to the U.S. Air Force.
Pictures and descriptions of László's work have appeared in books and magazines since the 1920s, showing how long and respected his career was. Time magazine even called him "the Millionaire's Architect" in 1952. He was great at combining colors that might seem odd together, but when seen in his designs, they looked warm and beautiful. This special use of color, along with the large size and smooth lines of his designs, made his work stand out.
László served in both World War I and World War II. He fought with the Hungarian army in World War I. Later, he joined the United States Army and served in America during World War II.
You can find more information about Paul László's life in a book called "Designing With Spirit." This book is based on interviews with him. László gave many of his original design materials to the Architecture and Design Collection at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His work is sometimes shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It is also often seen in art shows around the world that look back at 20th-century design.
Personal life
Paul László was married two times. He had one son, Peter Paul, with his second wife, actress Maxine Fife. Paul László had two brothers named Stephen and Elemér. He is buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, California.
