When it comes to architectural grandeur and splendor, William Douglas Lee knew how to leave liberals whining while he soared to success. Known for iconic landmarks that span Los Angeles, Lee was an audacious architect whose creations weren't merely buildings but masterpieces that became American icons. Born in the early 20th century, Lee's architectural genius bloomed at a time when America wasn’t about to apologize for being great. In 1920, Lee unfolded his blueprint magic on the City of Angels, landing his first major project in downtown Los Angeles – the grand Los Angeles Jewelry Mart.
William Douglas Lee spent his career shunning mediocrity and giving America structures that stood tall, both in their physical stature and in representing the American spirit. His work was not about fitting into molds but breaking them unapologetically. In a time where architectural innovation was an avenue for showing the spirit of freedom and resilience, Lee emerged as a figure who made no compromise.
Lee hit his prime with projects that came to define the LA skyline. The El Royale Apartments sprang up during 1929, a nine-story art deco marvel that set a new bar for residential living, favored by Hollywood elites. Unlike today’s cramped apartments designed to pack people in like sardines, Lee’s apartments were all about luxurious space and style that screamed elegance.
With international architectural trends being drawn taut, Lee tossed aside globalist influences and nurtured homegrown values in his work. The completely American craft in his local masterpieces was seen as an embodiment of the golden era's optimism and strength in American culture. Lee’s passion for monumental designs shaped the city of Los Angeles in ways that still command respect and admiration today.
Perhaps the most famous of Lee's works is the chic and world-renowned Chateau Marmont. Commissioned in 1927 and completed in 1929, the Chateau Marmont Hotel was and remains a blend of European charm and undeniable American luxury. Inspired by a French castle, this structure elevated Los Angeles’s hospitality scene, becoming the ultimate hideaway for the rich and famous. Lee aptly turned the phrase "if you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont," into an enduring icon.
In 1936, Lee wasn't about to rest on his laurels. The Selig Building on Wilshire Boulevard is yet another testament to his timeless brilliance - providing a breathtaking example of how commercial space can be transformed into an architectural delight. That massive concrete fortress took the concept of a 'working space' and paired it with artistic grandeur. No bland cookie-cutter designs, here, only solid American ingenuity.
Lee’s legacy is hardly discussed among liberals who sniff at any mention of, dare we say, ‘traditional values in art,’ as they attempt to undermine any narrative that doesn’t conform to their worldview. The so-called progressive architecture of today barely holds a candle to the depth and boldness Lee embodied.
Even if some write off Lee as just another relic from a bygone era, it remains clear that his philosophy gets under their skin: you can be grand without apologizing. His is an age-old wisdom bearing a torch for those of us who cherish the beautiful and the bold.
Finally, let’s not forget that William Douglas Lee’s lineage of work extends beyond these big-ticket projects. His designs carved out a niche in educational and governmental buildings, spreading the pattern of his monumental outlook far and wide across California. Whether it was a school building under construction or an office space being planned, if Lee was involved, you could bet that his mark would linger.
Lee’s architectural prowess and his no-compromise ethos with aesthetics and functionality were definitive. It was about creating legacies without bowing to trends that were often superficial. As an architect, his decisions were grounded in something real—not just hot air puffed up by modern fad-chasers.
William Douglas Lee didn’t view his structures as merely functional or decorative. Each was a manifesto, an unapologetic statement of strength and liberty. His buildings didn’t erode into nothingness with every political breeze; they stood firm, contributing to an ever-lasting tradition of American exceptionalism. There’s an undeniably rugged charm to that.