RESIDENT FEATURE
Christine lampert & David Lang
By Matt Marrison | Photos by Michelle Marie Photography
from the time they settled in San Clemente as newlyweds, Christine Lampert and her husband David Lang have been cultivating deep roots within the community. Beyond raising their three grown daughters and forging close friendships, the pair of married professional architects have infused their work throughout the town like autumn vines weaving aesthetic character strengthening the cityscape.
Anyone who has had their nails done at Mingee’s Salon on Del Mar, sipped wine at the Vine on El Camino Real or enjoyed patio seating at Billy’s have experienced their design and renovation work. The ‘Historic San Clemente’ articles Christine writes for South of the Pier and Talega Life magazines allows her to share some of her deep knowledge of and appreciation for the unique architectural environment of our town.
After about a dozen years operating their own firm, working together on larger commercial projects, Christine downsized her career to accommodate motherhood. Beginning in 1995, with daughters Samantha, Alexis, and Michelle, in their early formative years, the hardworking mother took on smaller renovation projects, mostly on residential projects around town. “I’ve done a
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lot of houses in this neighborhood and throughout San Clemente,” Christine notes. “Also I’m doing work now in north San Diego and Laguna Niguel. I don’t like to go too far from home.”
Ever productive, Christine has also taught as an adjunct professor of architecture at her alma mater USC, Cal Poly Pomona, and Orange Coast College, in addition to serving two terms (8 years) on the California Architects Board. Ever creative, David is a published author with four suspense novels to his credit.
The couple connected as undergrads at USC when they set out on an unconventional journey together-always at heart, at times physically apart-that would take them from coast to coast and halfway around the world. Yet they always remained tethered to Southern California.
David transferred to complete his architecture degree at Pratt Institute near his parents’ home in New York City. Christine had already graduated from USC and drove cross country in an old van to be with her college sweetheart in Brooklyn. As he finished his professional training, she worked for a couple years as an architect for the government before they returned to the West Coast together in the same old van.