Robert P. Senn

Robert Senn (67) passed away on September 12, 2026 in Santa Barbara, California. Born June 13, 1959 to Dr. and Mrs. Peter Senn at St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara, Robert brought creativity and joy into the lives of everyone who knew him.

Robert is survived by former wife, Monica Baggiolini Senn and their children, Sophia and Charles, his stepsons, Grayson and Henry, and former wife, Julie Hartman Senn. He is also survived by his sisters, Suzanne Senn, Kathryn Everling (Richard) and Carolyn Layman (Kenneth), and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Agnes Senn.

Robert grew up surrounded by his loving family, as well as incredible natural and man-made beauty in Montecito. California. Inspired by his surroundings, innate ability and interest in drawing, he decided to become an architect. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado and Master’s Degree in Architecture at the University of Washington in 1987. Projects during his college years included preservation efforts of structures in Colorado mining towns and Seattle’s Pioneer Square. He was licensed in California in 1990, and first worked at the firms Thomas Bollay and Associates and Sorrell Design in Montecito. He then opened his own firm, Santa Barbara Architecture.

While Robert specialized in traditional architecture, including French, English and American Craftsman, his passion was in designing Spanish Colonial Revival homes in the style of George Washington Smith and Tuscan homes with Palladian influences. He was especially proud of the beautiful Tuscan home he designed for his father and mother, the latter of whom came from a large Italian family. He also completely renovated and expanded an ocean view property which became a beloved family home. Robert truly enjoyed working with his clients over the years and kept in touch with many of them. He felt it was important to maintain the unique character of the homes in Santa Barbara neighborhoods and was a long-standing member of the Hope Ranch Board of Architectural Review and the Montecito Board of Architectural Review. Robert’s work was featured in magazines, news articles and books including Dream Homes of Coastal California.

Robert was proud of his children and two stepchildren. Sophia and Charlie have artistic and design skills of their own, with Charlie carving unique woodworking objects at Santa Barbara High and Sophia creating inspired artworks at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In addition, Robert was delighted that Henry graduated from his Alma Mater, The University of Washington and that Grayson completed his engineering degree at Cal Poly, Pomona.

Robert found joy in many activities during his life. In high school, he was on the track team as a hurdler and went to CIF every year. He was a proficient skier, golfer and a tennis player, a skill he shares with his son, Charlie who is on the Santa Barbara High tennis team. He loved classic cars and he devoted much time and effort on trying to keep his 1970 Plymouth Barracuda in drivable condition. He enjoyed traveling and studying the art, history and architecture of places abroad such as Italy, South America, and China. He was an avid hiker and hiked places like Machu Picchu and Mt. Whitney with his childhood friends, Peter Duke Evans and Don Lowry. He also loved his vast eclectic music collection and vintage stereo equipment that rivaled a concert sound.

In his final chapter, he enjoyed living in his beautifully decorated condo in Santa Barbara within walking distance of bookstores, restaurants with spicy foods and Trader Joes and spending time with his good friend Terri.

Robert was a brilliant architect with an incredible mind, but his greatest masterpiece was the love and happiness he brought to his family. He will be remembered as a blueprint for a life full of creativity, generosity, passion and kindness.

A private funeral service and reception will be held on November 13.