Exploring the scope of Tom Kundig’s international oeuvre

Tom Kundig: Working Title is an extensive monograph on the Seattle based architect's most recent work, published this summer by Princeton Architectural Press

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Shinsegae International headquarters tom kundig
Shinsegae International headquarters, Seoul. 
(Image credit: Photography: Kevin Scott, courtesy of Olson Kundig)

American architect Tom Kundig has made a name for himself through his thoughtful, tactile work that celebrates materials, textures and their environment. Most recently, his Costa Rica Treehouse created such house envy at Wallpaper* HQ that we shortlisted it for the Best Private House category for our 2020 Design Awards.

Kundig and his Seattle-based, collaborative design studio Olson Kundig (where he is co-owner along with fellow principles Jim Olson, Kirsten Murray, Alan Muskin and Kevin Kudo-King) have been producing works that translate to all scales but is always contextual and serene; clean and minimalist, but not clinical; luxurious, but thoughtful and grounded.

Tk Book Book Mockup Cover

(Image credit: press)

Now, Kundig has just launched a new monograph, celebrating his wide-ranging portfolio and 29 recent works that are set to make you sit and take pause. Entitled Tom Kundig: Working Title, the book is published this summer by Princeton Architectural Press and is a hefty, carefully designed, immersive tome. 

The publication features luscious photography and presents the range of Kundig's international work, from single-family houses of various sizes, to hotels, institutional and cultural buildings, and offices, such as the eye-catching Shinsegae International headquarters in Seoul.

With previous books on the architect's work focusing mostly on residential projects (Princeton Architectural Press has previously produced three tomes on Kundig, two of which were exclusively focused on homes), this publication is set to higihlight the variety in Kundig's most recent output.

‘This book showcases the many different kinds of buildings – from single-family homes to restaurants to office towers – I’ve had the honour of designing,' says the architect. ‘I’m so grateful to all of the clients who entrusted me with the chance to work on such fantastic opportunities in diverse natural and built landscapes.'

Costa Rica Treehouse tom kundig

Treehouse, Costa Rica. 

(Image credit: Nic Lehoux)

Center For Wooden Boats tom kundig

Center For Wooden Boats, South Lake Union.

(Image credit: Photography: Aaron Leitz, courtesy of Olson Kundig)

Martins Lane Winery tom kundig

Martins Lane Winery, Kelowna, Canada. 

(Image credit: James Omara)

The Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, Seattle. Photography: Aaron Leitz

The Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, Seattle. 

(Image credit: Aaron Leitz)

Collywood residence tom kundig

Collywood Residence, Los Angeles. 

(Image credit: Nic Lehoux)

INFORMATION

olsonkundig.com

Tom Kundig: Working Title is available from Amazon

Ellie Stathaki
Ellie Stathaki

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).