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

8 hours ago7 min read4 comments

To ask someone about the objects they keep close is to engage in a unique form of intimacy, bypassing professional accolades to uncover personal philosophy. When that person is Tom Kundig, the celebrated founder and principal of Olson Kundig, the answers provide a profound lesson in intentional living and design.In a recent exploration of his favorite possessions, Kundig revealed a world where every item is a testament to a life and career built on authenticity. His weathered cowboy hat, for example, is no mere accessory.It is a functional artifact of his deep connection to the American West, a region whose raw landscapes are a constant muse for his architectural work. It symbolizes a hands-on ethos, a belief that the most resonant designs are born from a tangible engagement with the environment.His Jeep Wrangler serves a similar purpose. To Kundig, it is a masterpiece of honest industrial design—modular, unpretentious, and engineered for direct interaction with the outdoors.It reflects the same principle as his famous kinetic architectural elements, which invite occupants to physically participate in the operation of their own spaces. Perhaps the most revealing object is his simple pencil.In an era dominated by digital tools, it remains his most immediate instrument for creation. It represents the fundamental act of drawing a line, the primal gesture that can evolve into a cliffside residence.A seal sculpture in his collection hints at another facet of his sensibility: an appreciation for organic, fluid forms and the symbolic qualities of resilience and elegance. Together, these artifacts—the hat, the Jeep, the pencil, the sculpture—form more than a collection; they are a holistic portrait.They reveal a man whose identity seamlessly merges the rugged individualist, the precise engineer, the instinctive artist, and the poetic storyteller. This integration is the core of his architectural power.Kundig’s buildings are not just structures; they are narratives of place, material, and human experience. This personal inventory shows us the very sources from which those powerful stories are drawn, reminding us that the objects we choose to live with are active chapters in the ongoing story of who we are.

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