Ray Kappe

About the Author

Ray Kappe is a distinguished architect, educator, and author whose career has profoundly shaped the landscape of modern design in Southern California. Born in 1927, he founded the influential Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in 1972, where he served as director until 1987, fostering a generation of innovative thinkers in the field. Kappe's own architectural practice, Kappe Architects, produced acclaimed residential and institutional projects celebrated for their integration of site, structure, and sustainability. As an author, he brings meticulous research and personal insight to his explorations of mid-century modernism, notably in his book Making L.A. Modern: Craig Ellwood - Myth, Man, Designer, which demystifies the legacy of a pivotal figure in Los Angeles architecture. His writings reflect a deep commitment to preserving and interpreting the evolution of design in the American West.