Driven by Context: Site, Craft, and Collaboration

September 11, 2025

Kevin Kudo-King, AIA, LEED AP

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Location: Bosin Ballroom

Credit: 1.0 LU

Abstract: Olson Kundig is a collaborative design practice whose work spans built and natural landscapes. Founded in the Pacific Northwest and initially known for its residential work, the firm has since evolved into a global practice encompassing projects of all types and scales, while remaining grounded in sensitivity to site, celebration of craft, and a commitment to collaboration throughout the design process.

In this session, Olson Kundig principal/owner Kevin Kudo-King will explore strategies for immersive design at the intersections of site, craft, and collaboration. Responsive architecture goes beyond capturing a site’s physical qualities, it reflects the non-physical qualities—culture, history, and collective memory—in built form. Craft reveals this context through a tactile connection to local building traditions, transforming architecture into a layered experience that intimately reveals place. The most successful projects integrate these elements through a process in which the architect is an extension of the builders and craftspeople, engaging them through every phase to shape the outcome. Through case study of relevant projects, Kevin will share examples of how these philosophies shape transformative, experiential architecture for users.

Learning Objective #1: Consider how builders and craftspeople can be engaged early in the conceptual design phase.

Learning Objective #2: Identify ways the architect can support the assertions and localized expertise of builders and craftspeople during construction to ensure their “hand” is present in the completed building.

Learning Objective #3: Examine how embracing a site’s physical and non-physical attributes can create a meaningful, holistic architectural response.

Learning Objective #4: Analyze how site, craft, and collaboration can be leveraged to design buildings that unfold through episodic experiences and discoveries, drawing users into an immersive journey.