Jim Olson
Principal/Founder | FAIA
“Architecture should fit into its context in a way that makes a better whole.”
As the founding partner of Olson Kundig, Jim Olson has explored the aesthetic interplay of art, nature and architecture, and the relationship between light and space, for over fifty years. Jim is the recipient of numerous honors including the Seattle AIA Medal of Honor and many national and international design awards. His work has been published worldwide and is the focus of four monographs: Jim Olson Houses (The Monacelli Press, 2009), Art + Architecture: The Ebsworth Collection and Residence (William Stout Publishers, 2006), Jim Olson: Art in Architecture (The Whatcom Museum, 2013) and Jim Olson: Building • Nature • Art (Thames & Hudson, 2018).
Jim’s work was also the subject of a traveling career retrospective that originated in 2011 at the Museum of Art at Washington State University, as well as a solo exhibition at the University of Washington in 2015. Jim has been published more than one thousand times in venues worldwide, including the New York Times, Dwell, the Wall Street Journal, and Architectural Digest. Under Jim’s leadership, Olson Kundig has received a National Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects, has been included in the AD100 list thirteen times, and has been named one of the Top Ten Most Innovative Companies in Architecture by Fast Company four times.
Associated Projects
- Country Garden House
Portland, Oregon - Omaha Art House
Omaha, Nebraska - Northwest Art House
Seattle, Washington - Cliff Dwelling
White Rock, Canada - City Cabin
Seattle, Washington - Haven of Reflection
Seattle, Washington - Fox Island Residence
Fox Island, Washington - Nelson Condo
Seattle, Washington - Harbor Loft
Seattle, Washington - Leach Botanical Garden – The Upper Garden
Portland, Oregon - Basecamp – Seattle Art Fair Visitor’s Lounge
Seattle, Washington - Longbranch Interiors
Longbranch, Washington - Northwoods Interiors
Iron River, Michigan - Hong Kong Villa Interiors
Shek-O, China - Wright Exhibition Space
Seattle, Washington - Urban Nature House
Seattle, Washington - Shelter House
Mercer Island, Washington - Seattle Asian Art Museum Renovation
Seattle, Washington - Pangyo Residences
Pangyo, South Korea - Overlake Park Presbyterian Church
Bellevue, Washington - Latin Zen Apartment
Boca Raton, Florida - Lake Minnetonka Residence
Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota - Hillclimb Court Mixed-Use / Condominium Building
Seattle, Washington - Carillon Point Condominium Building
Kirkland, Washington - Art Collector’s Loft
Seattle, Washington - Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles, California - Hong Kong Toy Company
Hong Kong, China - Healthy Apartment
Bellevue, Washington - First Hill Gallery Exhibit
Seattle, Washington - West Seattle Residence
Seattle, Washington - Urban Yoga Spa
Seattle, Washington - Tacoma Art Museum Plaza Design Competition
Tacoma, Washington - Northminster Presbyterian Church Renovation
Seattle, Washington - Atlanta House
Atlanta, Georgia - Transparent Loft
Seattle, Washington - The Red House
Denver, Colorado - Lightcatcher at the Whatcom Museum
Bellingham, Washington - St. Mark’s Cathedral Expansion and Renovation
Seattle, Washington - Pike & Virginia Building
Seattle, Washington - Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center
Los Angeles, California - The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Washington State University
Pullman, Washington - Borrego Springs Residence
Borrego Springs, California - Glass Apartment
Seattle, Washington - Garden House
Atherton, California - City House
Seattle, Washington - Jim Olson: Home Base
Seattle, Washington - Bluff House
Seattle, Washington - South Arcade
Seattle, Washington - 78-89 Cheongdam-dong
Seoul, South Korea - Taiwan Villas
Taipei, Taiwan - Gallery House
Seattle, Washington - Foss Waterway Seaport
Tacoma, Washington - Earth House
Longbranch, Washington - Desert House
Rancho Mirage, California - Christian Science Reading Room
Seattle, Washington - Ocean House
The Big Island, Hawaii - Northwoods House
Iron River, Michigan - Lake House
Seattle, Washington - City Apartment
Seattle, Washington - Bird Watchers’ House
Maple Valley, Washington - Urban Sanctuary
Seattle, Washington - Glass Farmhouse
Eastern Oregon - Bellevue Botanical Garden Visitor Center
Bellevue, Washington - JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
San Jose del Cabo, Mexico - Pavilion House
Bellevue, Washington - Mexico Residence
Baja, Mexico - House of Light
Bellevue, Washington - An American Place
Seattle, Washington - Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Seattle, Washington - Cabin at Longbranch
Longbranch, Washington - Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Denver, Colorado - Hong Kong Villa
Shek-O, China