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The Tools of a Visionary: How Tom Kundig's Cherished Objects Define His Architectural Soul
To understand the work of an architect like Tom Kundig, one must look past the blueprints and buildings to the objects that shape his daily reality. The founder of Olson Kundig reveals a design philosophy not through a lecture, but through the items he holds dear—a collection that embodies a life dedicated to authenticity, materiality, and direct engagement with the world.His weathered cowboy hat is the first clue. Far from a costume, it is a functional tool, as honest and worn-in as the weathered steel and concrete that characterize his iconic homes.It signals a creator who is as at home on a job site as in a studio, believing that beauty is a quality earned through use and time. His choice of a Jeep Wrangler reinforces this ethos.In an era of polished, silent cars, the Wrangler is a vehicle for exploration, designed to leave the pavement and connect intimately with the landscape. This is the mechanical parallel to his architectural masterpieces, where massive, hand-cranked wheels and pivoting walls physically transform a space, dissolving the barrier between the built environment and the natural world.Perhaps most revealing is the seal sculpture. For an architect known for grounded, monumental forms, the attraction to a creature of fluid grace and buoyancy points to a creative duality.It serves as a totem, a reminder that even the most solid structures should feel alive, responsive, and connected to their surroundings. And then there is the pencil.In a digital age, this simple tool is an act of creative rebellion. Its imperfect, immediate line is the direct transcript of a thought, the fundamental gesture from which all his complex, engineered designs begin.It ensures that the human hand remains at the core of the process, preserving the soul of the initial idea. Together, these objects are more than possessions; they are the physical extensions of Tom Kundig's values. They paint a portrait of the man: an explorer, a craftsman, and a poet of materials, whose entire life and work are a testament to the power of authentic, hands-on experience.
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