Traditional Building Announces 2025 Raphael Award Winners
Pavel Zhurov, Choate Rosemary Hall
Credit: Illustrations courtesy of winnersIn August 2025, Traditional Building held its third annual Raphael Awards. Named in honor of Raffaello Sanzio da Urbina (1483-1520), a leading painter of the Italian Renaissance who was a renowned draftsman as well, the Raphael Awards are an architectural drawing competition.
The Raphael Awards seek to encourage the study of classical and neoclassical architecture through the practice of drawing and painting by hand. The inaugural Raphael Awards took place in 2023, and the 2024 Raphael Awards were the competition's second year.
Entries were judged by designer Christie Franck, architect Steve Rugo of Rugo Raff, and Traditional Building art director Mary Connolly. Nine entries were chosen as winners—see illustrations and read more about each 2025 Raphael Award winner below.
Each illustration will be featured in Traditional Building magazine’s December 2025 issue. Winning entries will also be showcased on traditionalbuilding.com, traditionalbuildingshow.com, period-homes.com, and our social media channels. The presentation of the winning entries will take place at the Traditional Building Conference on October 7, 2025 in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
Savannah Civil War Memorial
On-site Line Drawing (pencil or pen)
Michael G. Imber Architects, Alexander Ford
Castel Sant’Angelo from Ponte Sant’Angelo
On-site Watercolor
Michael G. Imber Architects, Nathan Walz
State and George, Market Square
Design Sketch
Robert Orr Architects, designer; artist Wladyslaw Prosol
Elevation of Rowhouse Building in Alys Beach
Design Orthographic Rendering
Michael G. Imber Architects, Elizabeth Reay
South Library Pavilion at Hillsdale College
Design Perspective Rendering
Michael G. Imber Architects, Alexander Ford
Palais Garnier
Detail Study
McNicolas Architects, Matt McNicolas
Hand Drawn Architecture, Gambrels
Design Presentation (Residential)
J. Mark Nelson Architect
Human Touch Always Raise Value - Student Center and Dormitory Choate Rosemary Hall
Design Presentation (Institutional)
DLRGroup, Pavel Zhurov
Afternoon in Rome
Architectural Watercolor