Richard Olsen is a Carmel, California-based independent architectural historian.

With his unique cross-discipline expertise (his background combines writing, editing, photographing, and evaluating both writing and photography for publication, for books and magazines), Richard’s approach is uncommonly holistic.

Whether curating and editing a design studio’s monograph, writing and photographing a house history, advising an architecture practice on brand strategy for social platforms, or consulting on historic preservation for a movie studio, Richard’s groundwork is always rigorous research. The ultimate intent of the work, meanwhile, is always to deftly interweave the component parts—to establish the virtuous cycle.

In his three decades as an editor of architecture-and-design books and magazines, first in New York and then in Los Angeles, Richard held positions including Senior Editor, Architecture, for Forbes Media, where, in 2023, he launched Forbes’ Architecture + Design department, created its America’s “top architects and designers” lists, conceived and oversaw its adjudications processes, and wrote all its supporting articles.

Earlier, Richard was 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.

As an author, Richard’s work has been reviewed widely, including by the New York Journal of Books; the New York Times; TheWall Street Journal; Time; Architectural Record; Architects Newspaper; and Architectural Digest.

A photographic contributor to architecture books and magazines since 2002, Richard also maintains an extensive archive, including, since 2004, 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.