Wiliam Stout at his eponymous bookstore. Photo © Leslie Williamson for the Eames Institute.“In Japan, the government gives an honorary award called the National Living Treasure to those who have a unique and often unreproducible mastery of a craft or skill. These individuals are known as ‘Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties.’
“For almost 50 years, Bill Stout has fulfilled that role here in the US. As the steadfast and animating presence at William Stout Architectural Books, considered the most important design bookstore in the country, Stout has indelibly shaped the literature of architecture and design. He has published monographs on influential architects, collaborated on publishing projects with renowned figures including Zaha Hadid and Lebbeus Woods, and defined the visual references for legions of architects and architectural enthusiasts.”
Thus begins the introduction to an extended interview with Bill Stout, conducted by Dung Ngo and Sam Grawe, recording an oral history of Stout’s career and legacy.
