Studio House
From MaterialProject.org, the free architectural material catalog
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Building information
Designer: [Olson Kundig Architects]
Program Type: Private Residence
Project Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Building analysis
The Studio House in Seattle, Washington was designed by Tom Kundig of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, and built between 1993-98. OSKA Architects is considered to be one of a small number of architecture firms in the Pacific Northwest producing exceptional work, and was named AIA’s firm of the year in 2009. OSKA has a commitment to the union of art, design, and craft, and engages with artists and craftspeople in the creation of projects. Kundig in particular tends to design simple spatial configurations and direct routes, but refines the projects through exquisite attention to proportion and detail. The idea of and commitment to craft is evident in every one of his projects. Harold Balazs is a sculptor that Kundig cites as one of the most important influences on his design work, and is drawn to his freewheeling approach to art production.
Detail analysis
The Studio House was a watershed project for Kundig, where he established his own very unique architectural language of materials, construction methods, and details. The core and heart of the project is a large rectangular volume, which houses the kitchen, living area, and dining room, and can be rearranged and converted into a workspace or photography studio. With the encouragement of the client, a photographer and artist, many of the interior details were custom made, including the fireplace, the kitchen island, and most of the hardware. I am focusing on the details of the kitchen island in this case study, the most striking example of the unification of rawness and refinement in the project. There are at least six different crafted parts. The kitchen island features a cast-concrete top and rolling doors. The larger metal surfaces and cast-in-floor rolling tracks are patinated steel, while the hardware and wheels are cast bronze.
References
Notes
Student contributions
- Sarah Atwood, Spring 2010
External links
Additional resources
