Renowned architecture firm Olson Kundig occupies three floors of a 19th-century loft building in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. A crucial concern was opening the office up to more natural light; a staircase that cuts through the office’s three levels was added underneath the central skylight, which opens via a hydraulic lift system.
The old factory building's exposed brick walls are a point of pride for Olson Kundig. For workstations, shelves, and cabinets, they opted for inexpensive, but durable materials like plywood and masonite.
Even in rainy Seattle, the skylight provides plenty of natural light.
Access to tools was an important factor in the redesign. "In our design process, there's a lot of prototyping, fabrication, and model making," says Murray.
Kirsten R. Murray and her team gravitated toward smaller, more versatile workstations.
Movable furniture on the sixth floor can be configured as workstations, bleachers, or open space.
The massive skylight provides daylight and can be opened with a hydraulic system to provide fresh air.
"People wanted more open areas, smaller areas, more physical collaboration, and gathering zones," says Murray.
Large windows afford plenty of natural light in Olson Kundig's materials library.
From their front porch, the Paluskas can talk to friends and neighbors on the street. "It's the relationship we want to have to the neighborhood," says John Paluska.
Wooden ceilings throughout the house make it a cozy, comfortable place. The couple bought virtually no new furniture for their new home, opting instead to use art they had collected on their travels and furniture, like this sideboard, made by John Paluska’s father.
Just north of San Francisco, the Mill Valley home of former Phish manager and current restaurant owner John Paluska takes its place within its eclectic neighborhood and natural surroundings. A guest cottage flanks the family's garden. The "casita" has hosted friends, family, and even wildfire evacuees; Rachel Paluska refers to it as a "revolving door, in a fun way."
Handmade Oaxacan tile in the first floor bathroom add a touch of color to the house.
The kitchen is a hub in the Paluskas’ home. John Paluska’s restaurant Comal in Berkeley, California, celebrates handmade, regional Mexican food.
The triple sliding doors enable an indoor/outdoor lifestyle during good weather. Though they weren't cheap, it's a splurge the family doesn't regret. The dining room table was built by John Paluska’s father, a furniture maker in Maine.
A guest cottage flanks the family's garden. The "casita" has hosted friends, family, and even wildfire evacuees.
The kitchen, living room, and dining room are combined in a single, airy, great room.
The great room features a sound-dampening ceiling made of strips of Douglas fir laid over recycled denim insulation.
The resawn Western red cedar cladding will age gracefully, blending in with its natural surroundings.
The trailer’s original exterior boasts the hard-earned patina of decades spent on the road.
The Airstream Haus, parked in Ojai, California. August says that when your dwelling is small, it’s important to make the most of outdoor space.
August decided to forgo an enclosed shower, opting instead to build an outdoor shower where he keeps his trailer parked. A composting toilet means that there is no black water tank to pump out.
The minimalist bathroom features another walnut countertop. The Airstream’s curves and lack of straight walls presented a challenge for August, who built all of his own cabinetry.
An oil painting of American bison is an homage to August’s grandfather’s ranch in Montana.
The kitchenette is an exercise in space efficiency; a handmade walnut insert covers the sink to maximize counter space.
“I wanted it to feel like an old Airstream, just with a refreshed new face. So I decided to start with white and have only one wood tone, walnut,” says August.
The Airstream Haus’s interior is minimalist, but comfortable, boasting a fully functional kitchen and queen-size bed that doubles as a couch.
Musician and interior designer August Hausman lives in a restored 1968 Airstream Land Yacht that once belonged to his father.
The design for 55 Monterrey features an eight-story apartment building grafted onto the rear of a historic home. Windows, roof terraces, and a shared entrance in the historic part of the building connect the two structures.
Outdoor spaces were an important feature for PPAA to include. Terraces were constructed on the roof of both the three-story 1925 home and the eight-story apartment tower.
PPAA designed the building's apartments with the modern city dweller in mind.
The interiors of the historic home were completely restored and updated with a modern white color scheme.
The eight-story apartment tower's glass and concrete facade lets in copious natural light.
The stairway at 55 Monterrey winds around a central skylight. Restored woodwork and an all-white color scheme add a modern touch to the restoration.
The interior staircase of the original 1925 townhouse was restored to serve as an entrance to all the apartments in the complex.
At 55 Monterrey, historic details like the bay window seen here are rolled into a space that feels very modern.
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