Olson Kundig: Designs Framed by Nature

Olson Kundig , a project born out of pure passion, where the ideas and creativity of Jim Olson and Tom Kundig come together, reveals the purest combination of nature and art. Although it was founded in 1996, it is possible to trace the roots of the company back to the 60s: Exploring the relationship between America's natural environment and living spaces is nothing new for Jim Olson. This is exactly where Olson Kundig is heading.

The company, which aims to create sustainable projects with a “humanist approach ”, blurs the line between the inside and the outside. As a result, they emphasize that humans cannot and should not be separated from nature. Sustainability is one of the most important building blocks of the company. They show that elegance and refinement are not dependent on consumer culture and artificiality. Jim Olson summarizes the luxury concept of Olson Kundig by saying, “living in touch with nature is the greatest luxury.”

What makes Olson Kundig different is that it highlights human experience across a wide spectrum, from living spaces to workplaces. The team reinterprets nature and life with its originality and human-centered approach in small-scale projects. Above all, they shape their designs by prioritizing humanity, emotions and the environment. The firm’s design team works passionately on every project and pays attention to every detail. In this way, they allow people to pause and breathe in the midst of mechanization in their daily lives.

The idea that “ buildings can be changed by the people who live in them ” is another cornerstone of Olson Kundig’s buildings. Using complex systems of hinges, pulleys, and bearings designed by the firm’s mastermind engineer Phil Turner, their facades give the architecture they create a tactile experience, forcing people to rethink their connection to the environment. Such levers and pulleys have become Olson Kundig’s signature.

Chicken Point Cabin

Chicken Point Cabin, is a project that embodies exactly these design principles of Olson Kundig. This building located in Northern Idaho is a design born under the leadership of Tom Kundig. The only request of the client, who aimed to establish a small living space right next to the lake, was to create a structure as open to the lake as possible. Olson Kundig's talented team responded to this request with all their might, adding a glass wall to the facade of the building facing the lake.

This 6x9-meter wall can be fully opened with a hand-cranked lever, a signature detail of Olson Kundig’s architecture. The result is a breathtaking spatial experience — one where the boundaries between human-made living space and the natural world dissolve completely.

The endless lake view becomes more than a backdrop; it transforms into a cherished guest within the home.

Here, neither nature dominates humanity, nor does humanity impose on nature. Instead, the design celebrates a harmonious coexistence, where architecture becomes a quiet mediator between the two.

Martin's Lane Winery

This Canadian winery, which emerged under the leadership of Tom Kundig, stands out as one of Olson Kundig's emblematic works. A meaningful relationship is established between the wine production inside and the topography of the outside environment. The building combines functionality and aesthetics with a design split in half, positioning the production process on one side and the guest area on the other.

This approach offers visitors the opportunity to experience both the production process and the beauty of the natural environment. In summary, the unique design that Olson Kundig has put forward at Martin's Lane Winery presents wine production as a work of art, offering visitors an unforgettable experience.

“The building is split in two, one side literally following the land and the other side following the horizon. My favorite detail about this project is the magic that comes out of these two parts coming together.”

In the design of Martin's Lane Winery, Olson Kundig also identifies science and art through nature. The stairs inside the building are designed based on the Fibonacci sequence. In addition, the half of the winery reserved for production also offers the opportunity to benefit from the advantage of gravity. Thus, scientific perfection comes together with the magic of the natural environment. A unique integrity!

Desert House

In the 1950s, Palm Springs stood as one of the most iconic expressions of winter vacation glamour and mid-century modernism. But with the advent of air conditioning, it gradually morphed into a conventional suburb, drifting away from its original essence. With Desert House, Olson Kundig seeks to reclaim that spirit, reconnecting the architecture with the landscape it belongs to.

By merging Palm Springs' historical roots with a forward-looking design, Desert House creates a tangible bridge between past and future.

Bathed in earth tones, the home evokes the feeling of an oasis in the middle of the desert. Natural materials like concrete, stone, plaster, and wood blend seamlessly with the arid landscape, reflecting the palette of the surrounding terrain.

The interior — a collaboration between Olson Kundig and Terry Hunziker — uses soft, muted colors that are easy on the eyes, allowing natural light to move fluidly through the space and enrich the home's serene atmosphere.

Sawmill

Perched high in the mountains of California, Sawmill fully embraces both the challenges and gifts of its environment. Beyond its striking presence, it stands out as a net-zero emissions design — a true feat of sustainable architecture.

Located in an area prone to wildfires in summer and extreme cold in winter, Sawmill is one of Olson Kundig’s most demanding yet most accomplished projects.

Massive surrounding concrete walls absorb heat during the day, shielding the home from intense temperatures. At night, especially during cold winters, the stored warmth is naturally released into the interior, regulating the temperature without the use of air conditioning.

A nearly 8-meter-long glass wall can be fully opened or closed, and the mechanism that powers it is ingeniously crafted from a repurposed irrigation pump — a nod to both innovation and sustainability. Sawmill proves that sustainable living is achievable, even under the harshest conditions.

Olson Kundig is powered by a team of 300 passionate, collaborative designers who deeply value their craft. They often partner with exceptional artists and artisans, placing handcrafted detail at the heart of their work.

With a commitment to creating collaborative, human-centered, healthy, and inspiring environments, their designs remind us that nature can inspire everyone, and even within the walls of a home, we remain held by the embrace of earth and greenery.

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