The Tools of a Visionary: How Tom Kundig's Cherished Objects Shape His Architectural Ethos

16 hours ago7 min read1 comments

An architect's most cherished possessions are more than mere objects; they are the tangible expressions of a creative philosophy. For Tom Kundig, founder and principal of Olson Kundig, his favorite items—from a seal sculpture to a well-worn cowboy hat—provide a direct line to the core principles behind his celebrated, kinetic designs.Kundig’s work, known for its raw materiality and profound connection to landscape, is a direct reflection of a life lived valuing the handmade and the elemental. The seal sculpture is not a simple decorative piece but represents a deep, ongoing conversation with organic form and texture, a central theme in his Pacific Northwest projects and beyond.The cowboy hat transcends its function as sun protection; it is an emblem of a hands-on, self-reliant American spirit that shuns the sterile and the overly refined. It is the hat of a builder, mirroring the tactile, manually-operated systems that define his architectural language.In an era dominated by digital fabrication, his choice of a simple pencil underscores the enduring importance of the initial, human mark—the fragile sketch that blossoms into a cliffside dwelling or a pivoting wall of steel. Finally, the Jeep Wrangler completes this portrait, serving as his vessel for exploration, for immersing himself in the untamed environments that ultimately inspire his structures.To examine Kundig's select objects is to understand that his life and work are seamlessly intertwined. Each item contributes to a larger narrative about material truth, the dynamic interplay between the built and natural worlds, and the profound satisfaction derived from mechanisms that demand a human touch. In a world growing more virtual and transient, his philosophy champions the enduring power of objects made to last, to patina, and to tell a rich, evolving story.

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