The Objects That Define Tom Kundig: A Glimpse Into the Architect's World

4 hours ago7 min read1 comments

The artifacts a person collects are more than mere possessions; they form a tangible narrative of a life lived with intention. For Tom Kundig, the celebrated founder and principal of Olson Kundig, his chosen objects offer a direct portal into the principles that guide his iconic architecture.In exploring his favorites, we uncover the core of his creative identity. Consider his cowboy hat—it's a symbol of a hands-on, rugged American spirit, a philosophy deeply embedded in his work.His buildings, renowned for their raw materials and kinetic elements, embody this same ethos, engaging with their environment rather than simply occupying it. His Jeep Wrangler is another testament to this worldview.It’s a vehicle for direct, unmediated experience, providing access to the wild landscapes that fuel his imagination. This is not an architect who designs from a remove; he is in the field, connected to the elements.Then there is the simple pencil. In our digital age, it stands as a tribute to the imperfect, human genesis of an idea—the initial, physical connection between hand and paper where monumental concepts are first born.Each item, from a seal sculpture hinting at a fascination with natural forms to the other treasures he holds dear, forms a constellation that maps his singular vision. To understand Kundig through these objects is to learn that design is not just a profession, but a lived and deeply human experience, reflected as much in the hat on his head and the car he drives as in the soaring steel and glass of his buildings.

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