Rehkamp Larson Architects is grateful to Mpls St. Paul Home & Design Magazine for another year of hosting the RAVE Awards (Residential Architects Vision & Excellent) and elevating the skilled design work in our community. We’re pleased to have three finalists this year — thank you to our clients and to our amazing partners!
This year’s winning projects:
Wings Up Stair: (First place, design detail) Adjacent to the daylight filled entry and elegant living spaces of this modern new home, a sculptural curved stair leads to the more playful game / family room on the lower level. On the way down, glimpses of a colorful wall mural and guitar collection peek through the decorative metalwork and a series of blue “rain drop” light fixtures hang from the ceiling into the center of the circular stair. “This is one of those ideas that seems like an easy design solution until you try to document and actually build it,” one judge remarked. “The level of difficulty here is quite high, and I have to hand it to this team for a flawless execution.”
Exposed Structural Steel Frame: (Second place, design detail) The exposed structural steel frame in this central living space operates as a comprehensive architectural framework—visually organizing the room while performing critical structural and technical roles. The result is a highly tailored, deeply coherent space where raw materials, natural light, and advanced building systems are resolved into a singular architectural expression.
Lakeside Connection (photo below): (Second place, Renovation over 3500 square feet) The owners of this 1930s lake cottage raised their five kids in the house and now wanted to update and make improvements for the next phase of extended family gatherings and grandchildren. The original house was well loved, but had outdated mechanical/electrical systems, limited insulation in the walls, old windows, and a floor plan that did not flow well. After thoughtfully considering tearing it down to build a new house, the homeowners instead decided to renovate for a complete refresh.
