Richard Koch

He was an early leader of the Vieux Carré Commission. Koch was also an architectural photographer with many of his works archived by the Library of Congress. His photography highlighted the antebellum period in Louisiana. He was a founding partner of Koch & Wilson, a firm that specializes in architectural preservation.

• Name — Richard Koch • Born — June 9, 1889 • Birthplace — New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. • Died — 20 September 1971 • Place of death — Covington, Louisiana, U.S. • Education — Tulane University • Practice — Koch & Wilson • Significant Projects — Vieux Carré Commission Historic American Buildings Survey

Koch was born on June 9, 1889, to parents Julius Koch and Anna Koch (née Frotscher) in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was an architect and a builder in New Orleans and had immigrated to the city from Stuttgart, Germany. He enrolled at Tulane University, graduating in 1910, being the first graduate of the Tulane School of Architecture. He subsequently studied for a year at the Atelier Bernier in Paris, France. Following matriculation, Koch was a first lieutenant in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War I.

On completion of his military service, Koch worked as an architectural apprentice for a brief time in the northeastern United States before returning to New Orleans. He then joined the architectural firm of Charles Armstrong, eventually becoming a partner in the firm. Through Koch's influence, the firm of Armstrong & Koch focused on restorations and designs of traditional Louisiana buildings and structure. The firm was dissolved in 1934. • Illustration — Garden House at Shadows-on-the-Teche. The Garden House was designed by Koch and later photographed by Koch. In 1922, preservationist William Weeks Hall commissioned Koch to restore Hall's plantation home, which was known as Shadows-on-the-Teche. Within a year, Koch completed the project and the plantation home became part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Years later, Koch photographed this plantation as part of his efforts with the Historic American Buildings Survey. Koch traveled in Spain in the early 1920s, an experience that enhanced is interest and skills in architectural photography. His photographic subjects in Spain included the Generalife in Granada and the Alcázar of Seville. During this time, Koch also made architectural drawings of historically significant structures in Spain.

In 1955, Koch partnered with Samuel Wilson Jr., to form the architectural firm Koch and Wilson. Wilson was previously employed by Koch as a draftsman. The firm specialized in architectural restoration and preservation. The firm remains in operation as of 2023. • Illustration — The House on Ellicott's Hill, a home in Natchez that Koch restored Koch conducted architectural restoration projects in Natchez, Mississippi, the New Orleans French Quarter, the New Orleans Garden District, St. Francisville, Louisiana, and elsewhere in Louisiana. As a member of the Koch & Wilson firm, Koch designed the restoration and preservation project at the Evergreen Plantation home in Wallace, Louisiana, during the period 1944 to 1948. Koch's restoration projects in New Orleans as a member of the firm included The Cabildo, the Merieult House, and Gallier Hall. Koch led the architectural preservation of Oakley Plantation House (now part of the Audubon State Historic Site) in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The project was carried out from 1950 to 1953 under Koch's direction, using penal labor from the Louisiana State Penitentiary for the actual workmanship. Koch redesigned Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre in a style consistent with historic character of the neighborhood. With landscape architect William Weidorn and sculptor Enrique Álvarez, Koch designed the New Orleans Botanical Garden. In 1941 Koch also collaborated with Weidorn on a restoration of the St. Anthony's Garden in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Koch and Wilson restored the New Orleans home of philanthropist Matilda Geddings Gray in 1969, a home that Koch had himself once previously restored in 1937. The home is sometimes known as the Gauche-Stream House.

The New Orleans French Quarter is sometimes known by the term Vieux Carré, from the French language. By the early 20th century, much of the historic heritage of the area was being lost as buildings in the French Quarter were being demolished to make room for more modern structures. In 1920, interested civic leaders and other citizens organized for the sake of preservation of the neighborhood. Initially known as the Vieux Carré Restoration Society, Koch became president of the organization in 1930. Early in Koch's tenure as president of the Vieux Carré Commission, he recognized that the organization had little authority. Koch convinced local officials that the commission needed authority to issue permits for structural changes in the historically significant French Quarter and to levy fines on violators. Because of legal considerations, an amendment to the Louisiana state constitution was required to institute these changes, which ultimately took place in 1936. The Vieux Carré Commission remains a part of New Orleans city government as of 2023.

Koch served on the board of directors of the American Institute of Architects. He was a member of the National Architectural Accrediting Board and served as the organization's president in 1954. Koch was on the board of directors for New Orleans City Park and also the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art. In 1922, Koch was among the founders of the New Orleans Arts and Crafts Club.

Koch died unexpectedly on September 20, 1971, at the home of his two sisters in Covington, Louisiana. He is interred at Metairie Lakelawn Cemetery in New Orleans in a family tomb.

• Illustration — Corner of Chartres Street and Toulouse Street in New Orleans • Illustration — Contemporary view of Oakley Plantation House, for which Koch designed the restoration • Illustration — Conservatory at New Orleans Botanical Gardens, a Koch design • Illustration — Charles Kock house, New Orleans • Illustration — The Gauche House gate. The home restoration in 1938 was designed by Koch • Illustration — The Gauche-Stream House, a building twice restored by Koch or his firm