Ray Kappe, FAIA is an internationally recognized and published architect-planner-educator who has practiced architecture in Los Angeles since 1953. His much awarded and published work is considered to be an extension of the early Southern California master architects, Wright, Schindler and Neutra. He is well known for his work in the 60’s and 70’s published in GA Houses 1 and the monograph on his work in Toshi Jutaku 8203. His work of the 1980’s and ‘90’s has been featured in many of the subsequent GA Houses books, as well as many other national and international journals and books. In 1998 Images published a book written by Michael Webb on his houses entitled Themes & Variations. In 2003, a monograph entitled Ray Kappe 1953-2003, was published by the Architecture + Design Museum in conjunction with the Ray Kappe Retrospective Exhibit, celebrating his 50 years in architecture, which traveled around southern California for 4 months.

He was the first chairman of Architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is founder of SCI-ARC, the Southern California Institute of Architecture in LA, as well as its European Program in Vico Morcote, Switzerland, and was SCI-ARC’s Director for 15 years from 1972 to 1987. He has been Chairman of the Board and is currently a Board member.

He is the recipient of numerous design awards since the beginning of his practice and is the only architect to receive all of the following major awards:

1. The Neutra Award for excellence in architecture.
2. he AIA/ACSA Topaz Medal, the highest award for architectural education in the United States.
3. The Maybeck Award from the American Institute of Architects/California Council, the highest state award recognizing lifelong individual achievement in architectural design.
4. The LA/AIA Gold Medal for “Lifetime achievements as an innovative designer, enlightened planner and inspired educator who has influenced generations of students and practitioners.”
5. In 1998 he was the recipient of the first Distinguished Alumnus Medal in Architecture awarded from the College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley.
6. At the 1996 Pacific Design Center Westweek, he was honored by being named a Star of Design for Lifetime Achievement in Architectural Design.
7. In 1996 his own house was named a Cultural Heritage Landmark of the City of Los Angeles and in 1997 it received the AIA/California Council 25-year Award. In 2000 it received the 25-year Award from AIALos Angeles.
8. In 2003 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the AIACC in “Recognition of his lifetime of selfless contribution of time and energy to the professional growth of young people, dedication to the American Institute of Architects and the betterment of the profession.
9. In 2004, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and the “Hall of Fame” Award from Residential Architect’s Leadership Awards Program.
10. In 2006, he received the President’s Lifetime Achievement in Education Award at the National AIA Convention in Los Angeles, recognizing his 40 some years in education and the thousands of students whose lives have been touched by that involvement.