Lake Arrowhead Architects
(909) 337-7673
Welcome to Lake Arrowhead Architects
Specialists in Traditional Design for the 21st Century
Lake Arrowhead Architects is the name of the team within Michael Burch Architects that represents the specialized set of expertise that Michael Burch, FAIA and Diane Wilk, AIA bring to the design process in regards to an understanding of the unique nature of Lake Arrowhead architecture.
Internationally recognized, the firm has been specializing in custom architectural designs since 1986. You can view some of their other work at www.michaelburcharchitects.com
Michael Burch Architect's work has been featured widely in print, including 20 books and catalogs (9 of which are by Rizzoli International books) and numerous national and international periodicals, including Architectural Digest, Town and Country, and Veranda.
Both Michael Burch and Diane Wilk are sought after to lecture to the American Institute of Architects and historical societies on modern interpretations of historical California architecture.
The firm has been also been honored with dozens of architectural awards: two international awards, four national awards including three Palladio Awards (the sole national award that recognizes traditional architecture), over a dozen American Institute of Architects Awards and several regional awards.
Michael and Diane are also recipients of a Getty Grant and are responsible for initiating the Getty exhibit for Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA,“Myth & Mirage: Inland Southern California."
Examples of the firm’s work can be found as far away as Hawaii and South Africa. The firm has also been invited to exhibit at the past four Venice Architectural Biennales, the world’s foremost architectural exhibition.
In terms of local Arrowhead architecture, Diane has lectured on the topic of Lake Arrowhead to various venues, most recently to the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art in Philadelphia. She is currently writing a book on the history of Lake Arrowhead architecture due out in the Summer of 2022, just in time to celebrate the centennial of Lake Arrowhead Village.
Portfolio
The firm’s work has been described as “breathtaking in its sophistication & beauty”
- Aaron Betsky (ARCHITECT: The Journal of the American Institute of Architects).
The Family Nest
New 6,400 square foot lake front house located in Boat House Bay.
Various other Projects
Details of different projects showing range of designs from rustic to more refined.
West Shore Road
Proposal for new lakefront French Norman house on West Shore Road
John Muir Road
Remodel of 1950s cabin to look more like Old Arrowhead Style house
Restorations, Renovations & Additions to Architecturally Significant structures
Goetz Mayer Residence
Renovation & Additions to historic Wallace Neff house
Project published in Architectural Digest
“Wallace Neff Revisited: Rejuvenating a Landmark California Residence”
Doane House
Renovation & Addition to Historic Estate designed by Wallace Neff
Meet the Team
Michael Burch Architects is a specialized architectural firm founded in 1986 by Michael Burch FAIA, with a passion for traditional Californian design. It is an investigative practice, at once scholarly and hands-on.
As a 4th generation Southern Californian in the building arts, Michael is intimately immersed in its architectural traditions and is sought after by clients who share his passion for beauty and romance in buildings that look and feel as if they have always been there. He refers to his work as “A Return to Authenticity” – with inspiration for designs deriving from the firm’s extensive photo collection. Issues of sustainability are integral to the firm’s designs, based on vernaculars going back over a thousand years in climates similar to Southern California’s.
Diane too is a native Californian; her family has been part of the Lake Arrowhead community since 1945. Diane grew up spending her summers on the Lake. Her love of architecture was directly inspired by the wonderful architecture of Lake Arrowhead.
Michael Burch, FAIA
Principal
Michael Burch (BA, University of California, Berkeley and MArch, Yale). Michael is a member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows – “AIA Fellows are recognized with the AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work… architectural excellence… [and] significant contributions to… architecture and the profession.” (AIA College of Fellows). Michael has taught architecture at Yale, the University of Southern California and UCLA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Burch
Diane Wilk, AIA
Principal
Diane Wilk AIA (BSArch, USC and MArch, Yale) was formerly the Director of Graduate Programs in Architecture & Urban Design at the University of Colorado, where, as a tenured faculty member, she taught design, drawing and architectural history. Diane also served as visiting critic at Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Syracuse University and the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to teaching, Diane has published books and articles on architectural and landscape history. She is Director of Research for the firm.
Agnieszka Kaleta-Lopez
Project Manager
Agnieszka Kaleta-Lopez (MArchEng, Silesian Technical University) joined Michael Burch Architects in 2002. Agnes has both academic, technical and computer-aided design experience. She left her position at the Technical School in Zywiec, Poland, where she taught design, technology and history of architecture, to join Michael Burch Architects.
CALIFORNIA’S OTHER TRADITION: THE ANGLO/NORMAN ARCHITECTURE OF HOLLYWOOD’S SECRET HIDEAWAYS
Presented to the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art in Philadelphia
Contact Us
Lake Arrowhead - Indian Wells - La Cañada Flintridge
(909) 337-7673