We honor the life and legacy of Michael Burch, FAIA, a cherished member of the AIAPF community and a singular voice in California architecture.

Michael was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2022—one of the profession’s highest honors and a rare recognition for traditional architects. But Michael never followed trends—he set his own path. As both a preservationist and innovator, he embraced digital tools early, launching one of the first architectural websites in the 1990s and pioneering the concept of a fully virtual architectural practice by 2001.

His influence extended far beyond Southern California. Michael’s exquisite work in the Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean Revival traditions was exhibited four times at the Venice Biennale, and featured in over 22 books. As critic Aaron Betsky once wrote, his designs were “breathtaking in their sophistication and beauty.” Fellow architect Stephen Harby called him “the greatest living practitioner of the Spanish Colonial/Mediterranean Revival.”

To our chapter, Michael was more than an accomplished architect—he was a mentor, a colleague, a friend. He brought warmth, generosity, and wit to every conversation, and he held fast to the belief that architecture should elevate everyday life with dignity and joy.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife and professional partner Diane Wilk, their children—triplets James, Katherine, and Richard Burch—his siblings, and an extended family of friends, collaborators, and admirers.

A memorial service was held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Church of the Angels, 1100 Avenue 64, Pasadena, CA.

We will miss Michael deeply and are grateful for the indelible mark he left on our community, our chapter, and the architectural world.

Notable Project:

  

1922 Cavanagh Adobe in Indian Wells is one of the oldest adobe homes in the Coachella Valley. Situated on an acre of land and populated with huge date palms.