Jim Olson

A lavish monograph celebrating one of the most respected and admired American architects, known for his sensitivity to the nature and traditions of the Pacific Northwest

Seattle-based architect Jim Olson blends straight, clean architectural lines and curving natural scenery with such ease that one forgets they weren’t always in harmony. Over the course of a career spanning nearly fifty years, in collaboration with his partner Tom Kundig, Olson has established a reputation for thoughtfully considered buildings, evident in projects that suit and enhance their locations in Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Northwest.

This up-to-date survey of Olson’s work, focusing chiefly on his buildings for art-collecting private clients and large-scale resorts, offers a stunning look by way of plans, sketches, and photographs at the career of a great American architect. The accompanying text includes an introduction by architecture critic Aaron Betsky as well as Olson’s own reflections on the medium.

400 illustrations

About the Author

Jim Olson is the founding principal of Olson Kundig Architects and has received numerous honors for his work as an architect, from the Seattle AIA Medal of Honor to Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame. Since the 1990s, Olson Kundig has been continuously included in Architectural Digest’s AD100 list of the world’s top architects and designers.