Born in Berkeley, California, I am a second-generation architect. I grew up in Los Angeles, and was fortunate to live in two houses designed by my father, Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) founder Ray Kappe. I studied art and politics as an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and worked as a community advocate in the Monterey Bay area.

I received my Masters of Architecture and Urban Design from SCI-Arc, completing a thesis on low-income housing solutions for the United States, and I remain concerned with social issues as they relate to design and architecture—issues such as education, environmental preservation and energy efficiency.

I have lived locally in both San Francisco and Marin Counties. At present, I am updating my hillside home from the early 1900's in San Rafael, California. I live there with my teenage son, my personal partner, and her teenage daughter. I also have two older sons in college, one at the University of San Francisco and one at University of North Carolina graduate school. I love the beauty of the Bay Area, and enjoy spending my free time outdoors, kayaking, playing tennis and hiking. I also enjoy traveling, and during those trips have pursued my fascination for taking art photographs.