Richard Olsen, a Carmel, California-based independent architectural historian and author-editor-photographer, is the Senior Editor of Forbes’ Architecture + Design department.

In his three decades as an editor of architecture-and-design books and magazines, first in New York and then in Los Angeles, Richard's held the positions of Senior Architecture Editor, Architectural Digest (Paige Rense Noland, Editor-in-Chief); Senior Editor, Architecture & Design, Harry N. Abrams Publishers; Architecture Editor, Rizzoli International Publications; and Director, Architects & Designers Book Service and Antiques & Collectibles Book Club. At Amazon.com, in Seattle, Richard was the editor of the book divisions of Arts & Photography; Home & Garden; and Travel.

A photographic contributor to architecture books and magazines since 2002, Richard maintains an extensive archive, including an ongoing project, an historical inventory of the residences of Big Sur, California.

Drawing from all facets of this background, Richard takes on select special projects.