The Tools and Talismans: How Tom Kundig's Favorite Objects Shape His Architectural World

9 hours ago7 min read1 comments

The artifacts a person keeps close are never just objects; they are fragments of a personal philosophy, touchstones of memory, and quiet declarations of what matters most. For Tom Kundig, the celebrated founder and principal of Olson Kundig, his chosen possessions offer a direct window into the principles that drive his iconic, kinetic architecture.From the functional silhouette of a cowboy hat to the exploratory spirit of a Jeep Wrangler, each item is a testament to a life and career dedicated to authenticity, material honesty, and a dynamic engagement with the natural world. Kundig’s work is renowned for its raw industrial aesthetic and ingenious, operable parts—buildings that move and transform.His personal affinities are a direct reflection of this ethos. The cowboy hat is not an affectation but a tool, a piece of heritage that provides shelter from the elements and speaks to a hands-on, no-nonsense approach to craft.It embodies the grit and resilience of the American West, qualities that are physically forged into the steel and concrete of his designs. The Jeep Wrangler serves a similar purpose: it is a vehicle of possibility, built for uncharted terrain and refusing to be confined to the paved path.This mirrors the very function of his architecture, where massive, hand-cranked wheels and sliding walls invite inhabitants to actively participate in shaping their environment, rejecting a static existence. Then there is the fundamental tool of his trade: the pencil.In an era dominated by digital renders, the pencil represents a primal, immediate connection between thought and creation. It is the first mark, the unmediated line from idea to form, echoing the initial spark for one of his elemental houses that appear to grow organically from landscapes in the Pacific Northwest or the Rockies.A mention of a seal sculpture shifts the perspective from land to sea, revealing an appreciation for organic form and the fluid grace of nature. This object is more than decor; it is a study in biomimicry, a quiet reminder that the world’s most elegant engineering solutions have already been designed by nature.It points to a mind constantly observing and drawing inspiration from the entirety of the living world. To discuss these objects with Kundig is to understand that for a true creator, there is no separation between life and work.The same values of honesty, functionality, and connection are woven into every choice, from transportation to headwear. It reinforces that profound architecture is not merely about shelter or form, but is the physical manifestation of a worldview—a belief in the beauty of mechanics, the truth of materials, and the essential human need to be connected to the wild.In the end, Tom Kundig’s favorite things are not mere possessions. They are principles made tangible, the daily companions of a man dedicated to building spaces that are, at their core, deeply human and intrinsically linked to the earth.

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