In 1952 Rex received his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute after which he worked for William Steenson (1953-54), and Barienbrock and Murry (1954-55) before launching his own practice in Los Angeles, Rex Lotery Architect, in 1956. His Goodman Residence (1968) in Alvarado Estates is the only known project in San Diego County.
Born outside London, England on August 19, 1930, Rex Lotery’s family immigrated to New York landing in Manhattan on the steamship Aquitania on April 28, 1939 and later moved to Scarsdale, New York. In 1948, he graduated from Scarsdale High School. In 1952, Mr. Lotery received his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was a member of the Delta Kai Epsilon. On June 10, 1953, he married Susan Brenda Schacker. His first wife, Susan, and their son, Richard, (who died in an auto accident), preceded him in death. Lotery’s second wife was Francine R. Max, whom he married on October 12, 1979.
Early on, Rex worked as a draftsman for William Steenson (1953-54), as well as serving as a draftsman for Barienbrock and Murry (1954-55) before launching his own practice in Los Angeles as Rex Lotery Architect (1956-1968).
In 1968-99, Mr. Lotery helped launch the firm of Kahn, Kappe & Lotery, Architects/Planners, which became Kahn, Kappe, Lotery, Bocatto, Architects/Planners in 1973. The firm changed names one more time to Kappe, Lotery, Bocatto Architects/Planners (1978-1984). Between 1984-1992, Mr. Lotery served as President of Urban Innovations Group at UCLA where he delighted in mentoring the work of emerging young architects.
Rex won several awards for his innovative contemporary residential work. Considered ahead of his time by his colleagues, Rex was remembered, in his obituary, for his deep ethical concerns for the environment and for his profession’s responsibility to the social and economic well-being of the community, concerns he advanced as President of the Southern California Chapter of the AIA in 1973 and later as a member of the AIA National Board of Directors.
The archive of architect Rex Lotery is held by UC Santa Barbara’s Architecture Design Collection.
Colony Four (1978)
La Jolla Shores
*Presumed unbuilt; some plans signed by Rex Lotery; attribution by Getty Research Institute
Florence, Gerard and Corinne Calvet Residence (1959)
Beverly Hills, California
*remodeled in 2021
Goodman, George & Iris Residence (1968)
5330 Le Barron Road, Alvarado Estates
*Historically Designated
Lame, Allan & Pearl Residence (1970)
4730 Avion Way, Alvarado Estates
*Demolished by current owners
Lotery, Rex House (1962)
Los Angeles, California
Lotery, Rex House (1996)
Montecito, California
Presley, Elvis House 'Casa Perfect' (1958)
Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills
Rubin, Norman and Toba House (1971)
3950 La Cresta Drive, Point Loma
*Historically Designated -- by Kahn, Kappe, and Lotery Architects a firm that was in business 1968-1973.
Spanner Residence (1968)
4143 N. Cachalote Street, Woodland Hills
Wasserman Residence (1969)
5803 Overlake Avenue, San Carlos
*Designed with Rex Lotery
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