Tom Kundig Talks a Seal Sculpture, His Cowboy Hat, a Pencil + More

1 day ago7 min read6 comments

There’s a certain intimacy to the objects a person chooses to surround themselves with—a quiet autobiography told not in words, but in worn leather, trusted tools, and the patina of daily use. When architect Tom Kundig, the founder and principal of the revered firm Olson Kundig, opens the door to his personal world, he doesn’t lead with blueprints or grandiose statements about form and function.Instead, he points to his cowboy hat, a Jeep Wrangler, a simple pencil, and a seal sculpture. To the uninitiated, these might seem like disparate artifacts, but to someone like Kundig, whose architectural philosophy is deeply rooted in the raw, mechanical poetry of the Pacific Northwest, they are fundamental components of his creative DNA.The cowboy hat isn’t merely an accessory; it’s a symbol of a particular kind of American pragmatism and rugged individualism, a nod to a hands-on approach that rejects the sterile and the overly cerebral. It speaks to a man who is as comfortable on a worksite as he is in a design studio, a quality that permeates his celebrated projects, from the explosive, wheel-operated mechanisms of his Delta Shelter to the deeply contextual retreats that seem to grow organically from the landscape.Then there’s the Jeep Wrangler, a vehicle that is less about luxury and more about capability and direct engagement with the environment. It’s the antithesis of a sealed, air-conditioned limousine; it’s a machine that demands participation, that lets in the wind and the sound of gravel under its tires, mirroring Kundig’s architectural ethos of creating buildings that are not just *in* a place, but are actively *of* that place, responding to weather, light, and topography.The humble pencil is perhaps the most telling object of all. In an age dominated by digital renderings and complex CAD software, Kundig’s allegiance to this most analog of tools reveals a profound belief in the connection between hand, mind, and material.The scratch of graphite on paper is the first physical manifestation of an idea, a direct and unmediated line from imagination to potential reality. It’s a slower, more contemplative process, one that allows for the happy accidents and intuitive strokes that can be lost in the perfection of a digital canvas.And finally, the seal sculpture—an object of art and nature. This choice hints at a sensibility that extends beyond the built environment, showing an appreciation for organic forms, for the artistry found in the wild.It suggests that his inspiration is not drawn solely from architectural history or engineering manuals, but from the curves of a coastline, the texture of stone, the effortless grace of an animal in its element. Speaking with individuals like Kundig, you learn that their work is never just a job; it is an extension of their lived philosophy.The things they love are the things that shape how they see the world, and in turn, how they shape the world itself. For Kundig, these favorite things are not random; they are the essential toolkit for a life dedicated to creating spaces that are tactile, responsive, and deeply, authentically human.

#Tom Kundig

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#Olson Kundig

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