Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Olsen Kundig Architects



On September 14th - Olsen Kundig Architects hosted an AIA Emerging Professional Happy Hour tour at their facility. The presentation offered delightful insight into what makes this firm one on the most sought after small firms in the country. Jim Olsen has been practicing architecture since the 60’s and has strong ties to nature. He has embraced the juxtaposition between the curve and grace of nature and the rectilinear forms of the built world. I loved seeing pictures of his cabin/home in Longbranch, Washington. Tom Kundig is a master fabricator at heart and his design process seems very streamlined and complete, bringing everything together without “extra parts,” exposing the projects elemental form. The magic soup of polarity and shared vision between these two leaders attracts the most amazing talent and clients. During the presentation there was a video on the Shadowbox project. This project defies what most architecture is, being almost equal parts machine and home - walls move, roofs lift off, windows disappear - all of this with the design being in scale and elemental.  I was also fascinated by their new toy – a 3d printer for prototyping parts. Oh boy! What fun we would have with that machine! I look forward to collaborating with them on a project in the future.

- David Shuler