Richard Robert Leitch

Architect Richard Robert Leitch was born in Glendale, California on February 3, 1922. Following his service in World War II as a First Lieutenant in the USAAF (between 1942-45), Mr. Leitch graduated from USC’s School of Architecture in 1952 and became a member of AIA Orange County in 1953.

The young architect secured a job with Smith & Williams (1952-53) prior to launching Leitch & Rudolph in 1953. Dissolving his partnership with Rudolph, later that same year, the young entrepreneur hung out his solo shingle as Richard R. Leitch, Architect.

Years later, Richard Leitch International, Architects and Land Planners specialized in large master-planned housing developments throughout the United States. In retirement, Richard developed an interest in ancient Japanese country houses. He worked on modern adaptations of artisan-built homes from the middle ages. Richard returned to USC as an instructor and later secured his FAIA nomination in 1972.

Partial List of Projects

Aiches, Eugene Residence (1954-56)
Fullerton, California

Apartments for Sturtevant Corp (1960)
Newport Beach, California

Bay Villas (ca. 1978)
Kapalua, Hawaii
*By Leitch, Kiyotoki and Bell; Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1978

Country Casual Homes (ca. 1961-63)
San Carlos
*These homes are in the subdivision of the Grandview Housing tracts #2 and #3 built by Sam C. Harris starting in 1961. Examples of the ‘modern’ plan can be found on Lake Apopka Place, Lake Ashmere Drive, Lake Ashmere Court, Lake Mere Court including:
6511 Lake Ashmere Court
6531 Lake Ashmere Court
6561 Lake Ashmere Court
6562 Lake Ashmere Court
8708 Lake Ashmere Drive
8709 Lake Ashmere Drive
8720 Lake Ashmere Drive
8726 Lake Ashmere Drive
8732 Lake Ashmere Drive
8744 Lake Ashmere Drive
8747 Lake Ashmere Drive
8756 Lake Ashmere Drive
8762 Lake Ashmere Drive
8774 Lake Ashmere Drive
8808 Lake Ashmere Drive
8824 Lake Ashmere Drive
8835 Lake Ashmere Drive
8853 Lake Ashmere Drive
6305 Lake Apopka Place
6311 Lake Apopka Place
6318 Lake Apopka Place
6329 Lake Apopka Place
6330 Lake Apopka Place
6341 Lake Apopka Place
6342 Lake Apopka Place
6359 Lake Apopka Place
6365 Lake Apopka Place
6377 Lake Apopka Place
6390 Lake Apopka Place
6422 Lake Apopka Place
6439 Lake Apopka Place
6446 Lake Apopka Place
6458 Lake Apopka Place
6470 Lake Apopka Place
6356 Lake Apopka Place
6481 Lake Mere Court
6476 Lake Mere Court
6469 Lake Mere Court
6464 Lake Mere Court
6454 Lake Mere Court
6445 Lake Mere Court
6436 Lake Mere Court
6439 Lake Mere Court
6424 Lake Mere Court
6421 Lake Mere Court
6406 Lake Mere Court

Country Club Village (ca. 1959-60)
San Carlos
*The epicenter of the new development listed homes on Blue Lake Drive at Lake Murray Boulevard and Jackson Drive, "Nine beautiful model homes designed by Deems-Martin & Associates, Edward H. Fickett, and Richard Leitch... Exciting interiors designed and furnished by C. Tony Pereira, AID." (August 25, 1961, San Diego Union). Designed for Tavares Development Co.

Crosswoods Homes (ca. 1972)
Sacramento, California
*By Leitch, Kiyotoki and Bell; photographed by Julius Shulman in 1972

Deauville Country Club
Tarzana, California

Devonwood Estates Home (1956)
3603 Monterosa Drive, Altadena

Green Valley (1967)
Fountain Valley, California
*Master planned multifamily community

Home of the West (ca. 1970-71)
*Published in The Illustrated Guide to the Houses of America by R.M. Ballinger and H. York (1971)

Housing Tract
Cadden Way

Inverrary (1969-71)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*Master planned multifamily community

Irvin Kahn Office Building
San Diego, California

Lakeshore Homes (ca. 1968)
Westlake Village
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1968

Newport Beach Tennis Club (ca. 1967)
Newport Beach, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1967

Newport Investment Co.
Newport Beach, California

Oakbrook Villas (ca. 1968)
Chicago, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1968

Plunkett House (ca. 1975)
Location not known
*By Leitch, Kiyotoki and Bell; photographed by Julius Shulman in 1975

Private Residence (1962)
6518 Dwane Avenue, Del Cerro

Private Residence (1961)
3969 Kenosha Avenue, San Diego

Private Residence (1956)
3506 Monterosa Drive, Altadena

Private Residence (1954)
1276 Sunny Oaks Circle, Altadena

Private Residence (1957)
2030 Estes Road, Eagle Rock

Quivira Inn
San Diego, California
*With architect Vincent Bonini

S&S Construct. Co. Houses (1960)
Long Beach, California

Shadow Lake, Janss/Conejo (1965)
Ventura County, California
*Master planned multi-family community

Tennis Club Villas (1972)
Newport Beach, California
*Master planned multi-family community

The Bluffs (ca. 1969)
Newport Beach, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1969 and in 1971

Thunderbird Villas (ca. 1971)
Palm Springs, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1971

Tierra del Sol (1956)
Palm Desert, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1960

Turtle Rock Hills Homes (ca. 1969)
Location not known
*Photographed by Julius Shulman in 1969

Valley View Apartments (1955)
Fullerton, California

Villa Pacific (1965)
Huntington Beach, California
*Master planned multifamily community