Ralph Rapson
Ralph Rapson
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Rapson was born in 1914 in Alma, Michigan with a deformed right arm that was amputated at birth; he learned to draw expertly with his left hand. He learned architecture degrees at the University of Michigan, and at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he studied under Eliel Saarinen. “Cranbrook was a very exciting, dynamic place where I met and worked with guys like Charlie Eames, Harry Bertoia, and Harry Weese,” Rapson said.
Rapson was born in 1914 in Alma, Michigan with a deformed right arm that was amputated at birth; he learned to draw expertly with his left hand. He learned architecture degrees at the University of Michigan, and at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he studied under Eliel Saarinen. “Cranbrook was a very exciting, dynamic place where I met and worked with guys like Charlie Eames, Harry Bertoia, and Harry Weese,” Rapson said.
As a young architect, Rapson worked for the Saarinen architectural office from 1940 to 1941. He moved to Chicago in 1941, where he worked with George Fred Keck and others.
As a young architect, Rapson worked for the Saarinen architectural office from 1940 to 1941. He moved to Chicago in 1941, where he worked with George Fred Keck and others.
Rapson taught architecture at the New Bauhaus School (now IIT Institute of Design) from 1942 to 1946, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1946 to 1954.
Rapson taught architecture at the New Bauhaus School (now IIT Institute of Design) from 1942 to 1946, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1946 to 1954.
He was head of the architecture school at the University of Minnesota from 1954 to 1984 and the founder of Rip Rapson Non-Profit foundation Rapson died in 2008 in his home.
He was head of the architecture school at the University of Minnesota from 1954 to 1984 and the founder of Rip Rapson Non-Profit foundation Rapson died in 2008 in his home.
Some of Rapson Important Work:
Some of Rapson Important Work:
- 1945: Case Study House No. 4, or "Greenbelt House" (part of the Case Study House program)
- 1945: Case Study House No. 4, or "Greenbelt House" (part of the Case Study House program)
Esther McCoy famously wrote: "Rapson’s rendering of the house showed a helicopter hovering over the flat roof, as if the owner was coming home to the suburbs from his day at the office. His wife is waving to him. Where is she? Hanging out diapers in the drying yard. Rapson’s money was on the wrong machine."[7]
Esther McCoy famously wrote: "Rapson’s rendering of the house showed a helicopter hovering over the flat roof, as if the owner was coming home to the suburbs from his day at the office. His wife is waving to him. Where is she? Hanging out diapers in the drying yard. Rapson’s money was on the wrong machine."[7]
The "Greenbelt House" was constructed in 1989 for an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.[8]
The "Greenbelt House" was constructed in 1989 for an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.[8]
In recent years Rapson's firm developed a line of prefabricated modern houses called the Rapson Greenbelt, which grew out of a submission for the Dwell Home Design Invitational and are now available through a company called Wieler.
In recent years Rapson's firm developed a line of prefabricated modern houses called the Rapson Greenbelt, which grew out of a submission for the Dwell Home Design Invitational and are now available through a company called Wieler.
- 1945: "Rapson Rapid Rocker" for Knoll Furniture
- 1945: "Rapson Rapid Rocker" for Knoll Furniture
- 1954: United States Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 1954: United States Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 1957: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Edina, Minnesota
- 1957: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Edina, Minnesota
- 1959: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the Deaf, St. Paul, Minnesota (demolished 2007)
- 1959: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the Deaf, St. Paul, Minnesota (demolished 2007)
- 1962-73: Cedar Square West (now Riverside Plaza) housing complex, Minneapolis, Minnesota (a federally funded New-Town-in-Town)
- 1962-73: Cedar Square West (now Riverside Plaza) housing complex, Minneapolis, Minnesota (a federally funded New-Town-in-Town)
- 1963: Pillsbury House in Wayzata, Minnesota (demolished 1997)
- 1963: Pillsbury House in Wayzata, Minnesota (demolished 1997)
- 1969: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, St. Paul Park, Minnesota
- 1969: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, St. Paul Park, Minnesota
Shepherd House In Minnesota
Shepherd House In Minnesota
Shepherd House In Minnesota
Shepherd House In Minnesota
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