Katherine Spitz

KATHERINE SPITZ, AIA, ASLA, Principal

Each of Katherine Spitz’s projects uses metaphor to capture the essence of the site and the buildings. Trained as a painter, and later as an architect, she brings to landscape architecture her love for both the built world and the visual arts. Her background and experience in the fine arts and horticulture is extensive, allowing her to develop landscape designs which are truly interdisciplinary. She views landscape as an opportunity to extend the intentions of the architecture into the site. Hardscape, artwork, walls, and lighting extend and amplify the meaning of architecture. Shaded and colored by the nuances of thoughtfully selected planting, this powerful ordering creates experiential meaning and spatial definition in her landscape work. Katherine Spitz views the Southern California suburban landscape as a laboratory for the creation of urban spaces which maintain their connection to a larger geography.

As Principal of Katherine Spitz Associates Inc., Katherine Spitz participates in all stages of project development, from design and drawing through project management, and construction administration. Prior to starting her own company, she was principal of the Landscape Architecture firm of Burton & Spitz from 1985- 1993.

Her involvement with landscape design and horticulture began in 1974, working with the Barnitz Nursery in Santa Barbara California, and for the United States Forest Service, in the Los Padres National Forest. From this personal involvement with the landscape she developed an appreciation for both the exotic plant materials of the horticultural world and for the native drought-tolerant plants of Southern California. She has lectured on intention and form in Landscape Architecture at the University of California at Los Angeles and California State University at Pomona, and has taught design and drawing at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCIARC), and Otis Parsons.

Education: Master of Architecture, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles 1980
Bachelor of Arts, Painting, College of Creative Studies,University of California, Santa Barbara, 1975

Professional Licenses:Licensed Architect, State of California C-18142
Licensed Landscape Architect, State of California 3846

Affiliations:American Institute of Architects, Urban Design Committee
American Society of Landscape Architects
Vista Del Rey Planning Advisory Committee, 1990- 1995
Los Angeles Forestry Advisory Commission alternate
Association of Women in Architecture
Cultural Affairs Commission Design Advisory Panel

Awards:Progressive Architecture Award, Arts Park Performing Arts Pavilion, 1990

The American Institute of Architects, Design Award, 1989, Santa Monica Community Cooperative Housing Project

City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission Award of Design Excellence, 1989, Ascot Reservoir, and DWP Childcare

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