Architect and Professor Emeritus Richard Berteaux’s interest in vernacular and environmentally responsive architecture is underscored by his professional work and his research on color in vernacular architecture.

Born and educated in Los Angeles, California, he studied Romance Languages at UCLA, and received a BA in Spanish. He attended the Sorbonne in Paris for a year in an intensive French Language and Culture program, received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from U.C. Berkeley and an M.S. degree from Stanford University in Urban Design.

His professional work emphasizes climate-sensitive and environmentally friendly design, conservation and renovation of vernacular and historic buildings, affordable housing, interior lighting design and an engaging use of color.

In addition to a number of local and regional awards, he has received a national award and three statewide awards from the California Council of the Society of American Registered Architects in recognition of professional design excellence. In 2003 he received a national Design Award of Special Recognition for the design of the “Lofts”, a Mixed-use Building in Davis, and a state-wide Design Award of Honorable Mention for the design of Tan Orthodontics, a renovation and adaptive reuse of a 1900’s two story bungalow in Woodland. In 1993 he received a Design Award of Merit for Village Park Apartments, a 50-unit low-income housing project in Sacramento, which was co-designed with Professor Patricia Harrison, and in 1996 a Design Award of Honor for his design of the Yoder Residence, a climate-sensitive hillside residence in the hills of Winters, California.