Francesca Garcia-Marques, Hon. AIA|LA, Assoc. AIA

The AIA Los Angeles remembers Francesca Garcia-Marques, interior designer, invaluable longtime Chapter member and curator of multiple prestigious lecture series, who passed away in early July 2019.

For 30 years, Francesca was the principal of Studio Francesca Garcia-Marques, a multidisciplinary design firm in Los Angeles, specializing in graphic design, interior design, and historic restoration. She was also well known as a curator of lecture series, conferences and exhibitions with a focus on architecture, design and art.

“Francesca’s impeccable taste and discernment informed her every effort,” notes Julie D. Taylor, Hon. AIA, principal of Taylor & Company, an LA-based public relations firm for architecture and design. “Her intent was always to impart the power of design.”

In Milan, Italy, Francesca was a designer for Studio Franco Menna, and a designer/artist for Studio Gio Ponti. She moved from Milan to Los Angeles in 1986 and founded Studio Francesca Garcia-Marques in 1989.

From 1991 to 2011, Francesca was the program chair for AIA|LA’s Masters of Architecture lecture series, founded by Bernard Zimmerman, FAIA, and presented in partnership with LACMA’s Education Department. Conceived for an audience of both design professionals and the general public, the Masters series brought many local and international luminaries to the stage of LACMA’s Bing Theater, where programs were frequently sold out. Beginning in 2011, she curated the Distinguished Architects Lecture Series at LACMA.

In 2001, she was awarded the title Honorary AIA|LA for her work chairing the Masters of Architecture program. She had previously received four Certificates of Appreciation, a Presidential Citation, and a Professional Service Award from the AIA|LA Chapter. Francesca was also honored in 2004 with a Certificate of Appreciation for Support and Patronage of Italian Culture from the Italian Cultural Institute of the Italian Consulate General, Los Angeles.

She worked as a consultant from 2003-2018 on Interior Design and Lighting Design, Historic Restoration and Renovation, and Color Consulting for the Mount Saint Mary’s University Chalon and Doheny Campuses. Additionally, Francesca was involved in nine “WestWeek” design conferences at Pacific Design Center, from 1987 to 2000.

A private memorial for Francesca will take place at a later date.