STUDY NO. 01—
RALPH RAPSON: SIXTY YEARS OF MODERN DESIGN

24.02.28

To begin our study series we wanted to feature an architect who is widely known and celebrated in Minnesota— Ralph Rapson. His career spanned many decades and stretched across state and international lines, ranging from furniture design, residential design, and large scale commercial projects.

Early on Rapson was selected to attend the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, and later found that he was fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time. It was there under the leadership of Eliel Saarinen that he began to establish himself as one of the pioneers of a new concept at the time— modern design. Other fellow Cranbrook colleagues of his included Charles Eames, Ray Kaiser (Eames), Eero Saarinen, and Florence Knoll, all of whom he would establish close friendships with and collaborate with later in life.

Rapson was recognized on multiple occasions for his contributions to modernist design and won several competitions for both architectural work and furniture designs. Most notably— Rapson was one of only two designers selected outside California to take part in the now famous Case Study House Program.

In addition to his talents in architectural design, his unique drawing style and furniture designs also helped cement his place as a modernist leader. While many designers of the time leaned toward simple drawings and off-the-shelf furniture, Rapson enjoyed filling his drawings with interesting figures, often carrying out daily chores or lounging in precarious positions upon the furniture he designed specifically for each project. Remarkably, the Rapson Rocker that is still in production today is one of the only rocking-style chairs to have been carried over to the modernist world.

He would go on to teach at The New Bauhaus School in Chicago, MIT, and the University of Minnesota, where he remained as the head of the School of Architecture for 30 years. His practice would continue on throughout his entire life, working up until his death at the age of 93.