William Levy Alexander (1909-1997)
Description
William Levy Alexander (birth name Alexander Levy) was born in Brooklyn in 1909, the youngest of 15 children. In 1929 he enrolled in architecture school at New York University (NYU) where the curriculum was a balance of traditional Beaux-Arts and European modernism. During one summer, Alexander spent six weeks at Taliesin West but could not afford the tuition, so he decided return to schooling at NYU. Alexander graduated from NYU with a degree in architecture in 1934. After school, he worked briefly for Raymond Hood, Ely Jacques Kahn, and for the Works Progress Administration supervising a slum clearance project in Brooklyn.
In 1936, Alexander was commissioned to build a house for Richard Halliburton in Laguna Beach, California. After the Halliburton project was completed, Alexander practiced independently in Los Angeles and New York, always working alone. In 1939, he was commissioned to remodel Arnold Schoenberg’s Brentwood music studio. In 1940, Alexander completed several military commissions. After the war, Alexander completed the Greggory house in Encino, built himself a house in the Hollywood Hills, and worked on several commissions in Mexico (one of which was Hotel Las Cruces Palmilla). In the late 1950s, Alexander abandoned architecture, became for a short time a character actor, and later a benefactor. William Levy Alexander died in 1997.
In 1936, Alexander was commissioned to build a house for Richard Halliburton in Laguna Beach, California. After the Halliburton project was completed, Alexander practiced independently in Los Angeles and New York, always working alone. In 1939, he was commissioned to remodel Arnold Schoenberg’s Brentwood music studio. In 1940, Alexander completed several military commissions. After the war, Alexander completed the Greggory house in Encino, built himself a house in the Hollywood Hills, and worked on several commissions in Mexico (one of which was Hotel Las Cruces Palmilla). In the late 1950s, Alexander abandoned architecture, became for a short time a character actor, and later a benefactor. William Levy Alexander died in 1997.
Creator
William Levy Alexander, architect
Source
William Levy Alexander papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Rights
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. University of California Regents.
Collection Items
William Levy Alexander: John T. and Katherine McTernan House (Los Feliz, Calif.)
Photograph of the study in the house by architect William Levy Alexander for clients John T. and Katherine McTernan. The house is located on Ambrose Avenue in Los Feliz, California.
William Levy Alexander: John T. and Katherine McTernan house (Los Feliz, Calif.)
Photograph of the interior of the house built for John T. and Katherine McTernan, located on Ambrose Avenue in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: John T. and Katherine McTernan house (Los Feliz, Calif.)
Photograph of the study and guest room in the Ambrose Avenue house belonging to John T. and Katherine McTernan in Los Feliz, California.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the tower detail and spiral staircase in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the dining area in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences, located in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the interior of the loggia looking towards the tower side in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the interior of the loggia from the tower side in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences, located in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the detail of the tower and part of the loggia to the right, as seen from the approach from the land side.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the chapel and fountain at the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Aerial photograph of the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the exterior of the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the exterior resort, showing two levels of rooms, the loggia, the tower, and the dining and lounge rooms.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the exterior of the resort.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Aerial photograph of the resort taken from the cape.
William Levy Alexander: Design for a Firesafe Concrete House
Plan for firesafe concrete house, including birds-eye perspective, plans, elevations, and details.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton House (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the Halliburton House from the driveway with people on the balcony.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton House (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the Halliburton House looking towards the ocean in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton House (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room and entrance foyer in the Halliburton House, located in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton House (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room and balcony in the Halliburton House in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton House (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of bedroom #1 in the Halliburton House, located in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of the exterior and landscape of Alexander's House in Space that he built for himself, located at Viewmont Dr. in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of William Levy Alexander's House in Space during construction. This house was an early example of the cantilever construction method in the Southern California area.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of a worker working on the House in Space project in Los Angeles, California. William Levy Alexander built this house for himself using cantilever construction techniques.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of a man sitting at the balcony at the House in Space, located on Viewmont Dr. in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of the exterior of the House in Space during construction. William Levy Alexander designed this house for himself on Viewmont Dr. in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of the dining area in the House in Space by William Levy Alexander, located in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photo of the dining table with a view of the balcony in the House in Space by William Levy Alexander, located in Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: Poole Boone house and studio (Wilton, Conn.)
Photograph of the exterior of the Poole Boone house and studio by William Levy Alexander, located in Wilton, Connecticut.
William Levy Alexander: Poole Boone house and studio (Wilton, Conn.)
Photo of the exterior of the Poole Boone house and studio from a side view with landscaping in the foreground.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room with furniture in the David Greggory house by William Levy Alexander, located on Rancho Street in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the kitchen in the David Greggory house on Rancho Street in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room in the David Greggory house on Rancho Street in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of bookshelves in the David Greggory house in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the living room and fireplace in the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the hallway in the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the kitchen cabinets and sink in the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the dining table and buffet in the dining room of the David Greggory house in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the list of client requirements for the David Greggory house in Encino, California
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the table in the kitchen of the David Greggory house in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the interior of the David Greggory house with a tiger rug on the floor.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the cabinets and stove in the kitchen of the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the fireplace in the David Greggory house, located in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the guest and sitting room in the David Greggory house.
William Alexander Levy: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room and window with view outside in the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of a cart designed by William Levy Alexander.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of a door handle in the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the outside courtyard of the David Greggory house in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the swimming pool and lawn at the David Greggory house in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the exterior of the David Greggory house from the back.
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the carport at the David Greggory house in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Sketch and floor plan view of the Richard Halliburton house on Ceanothus Drive in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the retaining wall at the Halliburton house on Ceanothus Drive in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Aerial photo of the Halliburton House on Ceanothus Drive in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander photograph
Photo taken in 1978 of William Levy Alexander, on the right, with Eric Lloyd Wright (grandson of architect Frank Lloyd Wright), on the left.
William Levy Alexander portrait
Photograph of architect William Levy Alexander with his portrait sculpture.
William Levy Alexander: William Levy Alexander house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Aerial photo of the house by architect William Levy Alexander for himself on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, California. "House ->" points to the house in the upper left corner.
William Levy Alexander: William Levy Alexander house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the patio at the William Levy Alexander house on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, with views of the mountains and ocean in the background.
William Levy Alexander: William Levy Alexander house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photo of the living room in the William Levy Alexander house on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander: William Levy Alexander house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the living and dining room area in the house William Levy Alexander built for himself on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, California.