The 2026 Residential Design Architecture Awards (RDAA) received more than 516 entries from the top firms in the country and abroad. With such a large number of submissions, the competition was fierce, and our judges had some very heavy lifting to do. Ultimately, they selected 23 projects for awards in 10 categories of residential design, including one Project of the Year, seven Honor Awards, and 15 Citation Awards.
Some of the winning projects may be familiar to you, and, indeed, a couple have appeared previously in our magazine or have been awarded in other national and local competitions. Previous publication or award status are not disqualifications for entry. Residential projects completed on or after January 1, 2021 were eligible.
Serving on this year’s judging panel were five talented architects with deep expertise in residential architecture:
- Katherine Chia, FAIA | Desai Chia Architecture, New York
- Anne Mooney, FAIA | Sparano + Mooney Architecture, Los Angeles/Salt Lake City
- Michael Morrow, AIA | Kinneymorrow Architecture, Austin, Texas
- John Sanders, FAIA | Sanders Pace Architecture, Knoxville, Tennessee
- Ben Waechter, FAIA | Waechter Architecture, Portland, Oregon
The jury reviewed projects at their own pace individually before gathering via video conferencing for an intense, two-day deliberation of the strongest entries. It was an exhilarating and exhausting process, yielding a body of nationally significant and inspiring residential architecture.
Coverage of our winning projects will appear first in our print edition, Residential Design, Vol. 3, 2026, and then online in an expanded form with even more images and drawings.
Please join us in congratulating these outstanding winning firms and consider entering your own best work in our 2027 RDAA competition.
Project of the Year
French Creek Workshops
Snohomish, Washington
Wittman Estes
Click on the gold project titles to read each feature and see project photos. Note: Online coverage for all RDAA 2026 winners is coming soon. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Custom Urban House
Honor Awards
Point Dume Residence
Malibu, California
Lake Flato Architects
Meridian House
Indianapolis
Specht Novak
⸺
Citation Awards
iolair
Eastsound, Washington
GO’C
City Park Residence
Austin, Texas
Alterstudio
Courtyard House
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
RUFproject
Custom Rural or Vacation House
Honor Award
Navy Beach
Montauk, New York
Bates Masi + Architects
⸺
Citation Awards
Camp Meeker
Allenspark, Colorado
Renée del Gaudio Architecture
Sag Harbor Bay
North Haven, New York
BMA Architects
El Aleph Guesthouse
Port L’Hebert, Nova Scotia, Canada
MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects
Custom Period or Vernacular House
Citation Award
Farmhouse in a Meadow
Needham, Massachusetts
Elliott Architects
Custom Period or Vernacular Renovation,
Restoration,
or Preservation
Honor Awards
Slayton House Renovation and Addition
Washington, D.C.
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
Old Yacht Club
East Blue Hill, Maine
Elliott Architects
⸺
Citation Award
Accabonac House
East Hampton, New York
Berg Design Architecture
Renovation
Citation Award
Cootie Catcher
San Antonio
Cotton Estes Architect
Architectural Interiors
Citation Award
Tierra de Paz
San Antonio
Cotton Estes Architect
Architectural Details
Citation Awards
Snider House
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Giannone Petricone Associates
Brooklyn Heights Townhouses
Brooklyn, New York
The Brooklyn Studio
Residential Special Constraints
Citation Award
Lilac Cottage
North Truro, Massachusetts
Keira Ritter Design Co.
Custom Accessory or Outbuilding
Honor Award
Lafayette ADU
Lafayette, California
Swatt + Partners
⸺
Citation Awards
Tennis Pavilion
Emmons County, North Dakota
Johnsen Schmaling Architects
Willamette Pool House
Newberg, Oregon
Fieldwork Design & Architecture
Custom Outdoor Living Design
Honor Award
Casa del Lago
Austin, Texas
Miró Rivera Architects