Insights: Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA

Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, has spent over four decades crafting award-winning architecture across six continents. He finds joy in the grit and determination needed to innovate, creating functional architecture that responds to context and reflects the stories of its users. After years of honing his distinctive style, Tom became a principal and owner of Olson Kundig in 1996. His portfolio spans a range of built and ongoing projects, from adaptive reuse developments and hospitality destinations to sports facilities and venues, museums, wineries, private homes and more.

In September 2025, Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, joined Michael Strogoff, FAIA, from Olson Kundig’s Seattle studio. Tom reflected on his career path, his fascination with the physics of movement, how his climbing experiences led him to push the boundaries of architecture, his innate optimism, how he "hears music" when developing designs, his relentless curiosity and, of course, his love of gizmos.