Napa County Landmarks is proud to announce that our Executive Director, Christine Madrid French, has been honored with the “Best Portfolio Award” at the esteemed Booklaunch Awards in London for her work “The Architecture of Suspense: The Built World in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock,” from the University of Virginia Press. This recognition is a testament to Christine’s extraordinary contributions and innovative approach to exploring architectural history and historic preservation.
The judges praised French’s approach, noting that “Christine Madrid French offers a comprehensive line-up of [Hitchcock’s buildings] and who designed them, leading to more detailed assessments of how architecture can manipulate us emotionally,” the judges noted. This unique perspective, focusing on the emotional impact of architecture rather than its practicalities, was deemed “ingenious” and deserving of wider recognition.
The Booklaunch Awards, now in their second year, celebrate excellence in architectural publishing. French’s award-winning book was selected from a highly competitive international shortlist, reinforcing her standing as a thought leader in the field of architectural history.
Terry Wunderlich, President of the Board at Napa County Landmarks, said “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Christine on this well-deserved honor. Her research and writing elevates the importance of architecture in our community, a mission that is at the core of what we do at Napa County Landmarks.”
The Booklaunch issue detailing all of the award winners is available at: https://issuu.com/booklaunch/docs/booklaunch_issue_20_summer_2024
Copies of “The Architecture of Suspense” are available at your local bookstore, the University of Virginia Press, or Amazon.
