Tom Kundig: Houses

Dung Ngo, editor

This book shows the early work of Seattle based architect Tom Kundig. His projects are inventive, industrial, mechanical and dynamic. Attention to detail and materials are reminiscent of Alvar Aalto and Carlo Scarpa.

The book includes photos, computer drawings and hand sketches and also contains brief essays by Steven Holl and Rick Joy.

This book was inspiring for the early thinking of 60k House – large windows and walls opening up a building but also allowing it to be closed down. It was interesting to revisit the book and discover elements that were later incorporated – low-hanging large-scale exposed light globes and industrial fittings in the bathroom. These ideas, not referred to during construction or detailing, must have made an impression and remained in the back of my mind.