Lutah Maria Riggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lutah Maria Riggs
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| Born | October 31, 1896 Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | March 8, 1984 (aged 87) Montecito, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Architect |
Lutah Maria Riggs (October 31, 1896 – March 8, 1984) was an American architect. She worked for many years in Santa Barbara, California.
Lutah was born in Toledo, Ohio. After high school, she moved to Santa Barbara with her mother. She later earned a degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.
From 1921 to 1930, she worked for a famous architect named George Washington Smith. She continued to design buildings in Santa Barbara until 1980. She mostly focused on designing homes.
Lutah Maria Riggs was the first woman architect to get a license in Santa Barbara. She was also the first woman in California to become a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. This is a very high honor for architects.
Early Life and Learning
Lutah Maria Riggs was born in 1896 in Toledo, Ohio. She was the only child of a doctor and a homemaker. Her father passed away when she was young.
She finished high school in Indianapolis in 1914. Later that year, Lutah and her mother moved to Santa Barbara. They joined her stepfather there.
Lutah first studied at Santa Barbara City College. She received a certificate in 1917. Then, she won a scholarship to attend the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her architecture degree in 1919.
She continued her studies at Berkeley in 1920. However, she moved back to Santa Barbara before finishing. She wanted to be closer to her mother, who was not well.
Her Work as an Architect
Lutah Riggs started her career in architecture in 1920. She worked as a designer for architect Ralph D. Taylor in Susanville. After a few months, she moved to Santa Barbara.
There, she worked for George Washington Smith. He was known for his Spanish Revival style buildings. Smith and his wife liked Lutah very much. She became like a daughter to them.
She traveled with the Smith family on trips to study architecture. They went to Mexico in 1922 and Europe in 1924. Also in 1924, Lutah became a partner in the firm. She was named the chief designer.
Lutah became very important in the firm's designs. Sometimes, she was fully in charge of designing projects. She helped a lot with some of Smith's most famous buildings. These include the Lobero Theatre, El Paseo complex, and Casa del Herrero.
In 1928, Lutah Riggs got her license to be an architect. She kept working for George Washington Smith until 1930. Smith then had a sudden heart attack and passed away.
After working with other architects for a short time, Lutah started her own firm in 1931. She ran her firm until 1942. During these years, she designed many homes for wealthy clients. These homes were in the Santa Barbara and Montecito areas.
She also designed some commercial buildings. One example is the Blaksley Library at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1942). During World War II, Lutah briefly worked as a set designer for movies.
In 1946, Lutah Riggs started a partnership with Arvin Shaw. They continued to focus on designing homes. Their style became more modern. An example is her design for the Alice Erving house in Montecito (1951).
The Erving house is known for its smart placement. It offers privacy but also wide views of the mountains. It also has large floor-to-ceiling windows and high, vaulted ceilings.
In 1951, she left the partnership to work on her own again. She kept designing homes and some commercial buildings. One of her most famous buildings from this time is the Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple (1956). It is known for looking like old South Indian wooden temples.
Besides her own practice, Lutah Riggs was active in her local architect group. She also served on the California Architects' Board. In 1960, she was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. This was for her excellent designs and service to the profession.
In 1967, the Los Angeles Times newspaper named her "Woman of the Year." She was the first architect to receive this award. Lutah Riggs continued to work as an architect until 1980. She passed away in Montecito, California, in 1984.
The Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara now offers a scholarship in Lutah's name. It helps architecture students, especially women.
External links
- Image collections at the Art, Design, & Architecture Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara:
See also
In Spanish: Lutah María Riggs para niños
