The Foundation of Dreams

By Sara Pentz

Walk into the office of Architect Richard Krantz in Newport Beach, and you instantly find yourself in an art gallery of sorts. Everywhere the eye looks you see beautiful renderings of homes in soft shades and hues drawn by the hand of an artist. On the floor, on tables and desks, on top of filing cabinets there are miniature models of homes, looking so real one wants to be invited inside to meet the owner. There are photographs of homes on the walls. There are curled and uncurled architectural drawings and computer screens flickering with engineering diagrams and scaled-to elevations. There are even original sketches drawn from the imagination of the man. It is an open sanctuary to the art of architecture and to his immense talent.

Growing up, Richard Krantz was surrounded by all things beautiful. Both his parents were artists, as were several of his siblings. “In fact, at one point in the late l970’s,” explains Richard, “my mother and father, both sculptors, two of my sisters and myself, were all showing our artwork in the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts.” With that environment as a launching pad, Richard Krantz has become a creator of real dreams, as he puts it, molding beautiful homes from mere bricks and mortar for the past 19 years.

From the beginning this Newport Beach Architect liked things technical and mechanical, as well as artistic. It wasn’t long before he had decided that architecture would be his planned profession. Richard graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo in architecture. “That is who I am,” he states. “I was looking for a profession that would encompass all of my interests, and serve people and the environment.” As part of that strategy, he has traveled extensively to some 50 countries absorbing cultures, buildings, art, and styles, forever with his camera and sketchbook in hand catching images for his artistic bank.

Richard John Krantz, AIA, Architect, the business, was founded on some very elevated principles: To create a variety of distinctive architecture by using excellent design and business principles which provide beauty, value, purpose and drama to every project.

As a result of his commitment to these high standards, this architect has designed a variety of notable high-end custom homes throughout Southern California as well as in other states. His eclectic styles demonstrate his diversity of design. He has built homes to reflect Italian Mediterranean, French Mediterranean, Italian Villa, English/Traditional, Contemporary, Country French, Spanish/Santa Barbara, and Cape Cod styles; waterfront homes and a particularly charming log home, which achieved national attention for him and his art.

Richard and his wife Lynne, his business manager, strive primarily for excellent client relations throughout the building process. “This is what helps to contribute to a truly enjoyable experience between client and architect,” they agree. Listening to his clients' needs and desires, studying the site and the context, and synthesizing these into a dramatic and interesting design are the goals of each project. Each design follows timeless principles of “...quality of light, appropriate building materials, proportion and progression of spaces, all integrated by the inspiration of the surrounding landscape and buildings.” To achieve these goals and retain personal friendships are mighty testimonials to this architect’s abilities.

As a result of his talent and philosophy, referrals are the mainstay of Richard’s business. “I believe that’s because we care so much about what the client thinks,” he adds. Cultivating these important relationships is a necessary process. “Of course, it takes longer - more time - to create the initial designs. Each of my clients could buy a beautiful existing house, but that’s not the issue. They want to participate in the custom design of their own dream home. They want to have the home become a reflection of themselves. That is what gives them the ultimate joy and satisfaction.”

With his strength as an artist, Richard can sketch drawings for his clients during meetings. He creates quick sketches and then refines them later adding color and the perspective of three-dimensions. “I see the whole house in my mind as a sculpture. But, I have to communicate that image and process to the client, and so the sketches become part of the communication tools.”

“This is the kind of give and take or ‘conversation’,” he says, “that takes place between the artists and the owners. One of the fears people have is that they won’t understand or can’t actually see the home before it is built. By doing these sketches we can continually refine the home before we begin the building process.”

“I have a passion,” he adds. “This is their dream house. I have to listen and interpret their dream. My clients come to me because they believe I can formulate and create their dream. I have very certain goals and principles of design that take a lot of personal care. What we’re creating is more than a building.”

For Richard Krantz the one common thread is the personal care that he and his staff have for their clients and projects. “With all of our clients our relationships don’t end with the completion of the house. We continue to be friends because we have become close to them during this very personal process of building their dream house.”