Susan Hume Frazer

The Architecture of William Lawrence Bottomley

Original airdate: November 30, 2007

About the book: Refined country houses, gracious urban dwellings, posh Broadway cafés, exotic nightclubs, and a high-rise apartment building that, 80 years after its construction, is still considered the epitome of tony living in Manhattan these are among the many achievements of William Lawrence Bottomley, one of the best American architects of the first half of the 20th century. During his 40-year career, Bottomley designed and executed over 180 commissions for his clients. An uncompromising perfectionist with refined taste, he oversaw virtually every facet of his projects, from interior ornamentation and decoration to the surrounding landscape design.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF WILLIAM LAWRENCE BOTTOMLEY is the first comprehensive study of this master architect and designer. Richly illustrated with archival photographs and floor plans, the book examines 34 of the architect s structures nationwide and includes a catalogue of 185 commissions and a comprehensive bibliography.

Susan Hume Frazer, PhD, is an independent scholar, writer, and lecturer in American architecture and the decorative arts, and president of Hume-Frazer Associates, LLC, a firm devoted to architectural history research and consultation. She resides with her husband, Jack, and their Westie, Simon, in the Fan District of Richmond, Virginia, surrounded by buildings designed by William Lawrence Bottomley.

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