Seattle-based Olson Kundig is a prime example of how a firm's design approach is shaped by geography and culture. Founded by Jim Olson (Jim Olson) in 1966, the firm now comprises hundreds of employees and four other partners, including Tom Kundig. The practice boasts a wide and diverse portfolio. In lectures and interviews, Kundig frequently discusses how his upbringing in a region with a rich history of mining and logging influenced his industrial and rational aesthetic, his use of durable, low-maintenance materials, and his keen focus on craftsmanship. At the same time, an imaginative approach that emphasizes kinetic elements and blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors is a hallmark of many of the firm's designs. This is often achieved through the integration of manual, hand-operated devices that allow users to physically activate the building, connecting them to the environment, the architecture, and its kinetic mechanisms.
According to Tom Kundig, much of his background is clearly reflected in his work: an interest in physics, a background in sculpture, his experience as a mountaineer, and, perhaps most importantly, a childhood passion for hot rod culture. Compared to his architectural peers, hot rod culture is an unusual source of inspiration. As he notes, custom car modification and architecture share a common thread: transforming mass-produced objects into something unique and personalized. This perspective, combined with Jim Olson’s emphasis on craftsmanship and materials, has shaped the firm's design aesthetic.
