Architecture is not merely shelter—it is about experience and discovery, created through a dialogue between client, builder and designer.

Kevin M. Kudo‑King

Principal / Owner | AIA, LEED AP

Since joining Olson Kundig as an intern architect in 1996, principal/owner Kevin Kudo-King has played an integral role in the design, production, and management of numerous award-winning projects. In addition to private homes for multigenerational families, art collectors, and the adventurous, Kevin leads or co-leads much of the firm’s hospitality work, with active projects located across North America, Central America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Rooted in Place

An alumnus of the University of Arizona, Kevin’s education in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert—demanding deep consideration of the surrounding landscape—continues to influence his designs. This awareness is evident in his attention to light, sound, and connections to nature within the built environment, showcasing a high sensitivity to sensory conditions and harmony with the site’s natural elements.

Kevin emphasizes the innate human need for connection to nature, experiences, and functionality in his approach to design. He creates buildings and spaces that feel rooted in place, often as small parts of a larger landscape, without overwhelming their surroundings. By acting as an armature to frame views and foster engagement, his architecture quietly defers to its environment, leading to transformative experiences for the inhabitants.

Extensive travel, especially throughout Japan, has given Kevin an appreciation for an architecture of experience, one that unfolds gradually, taking its inhabitants on a journey. Rather than a singular grand move, his work seeks to link subdued and dramatic moments of discovery. The profound impact of this layered, quiet experience allows his work to draw on both the tangible and intangible properties of a specific place, culture, and history.

For every client, my goal is to create immersive spaces that compel you to be fully present. The most meaningful experiences occur when people are able to connect to the unique qualities—both physical and non‑physical—of the places they inhabit.Kevin M. Kudo‑King
Principal / Owner

Residential Design Influence

Kevin’s background in the residential sector informs his work across other building types, from hospitality to cultural projects, in diverse locations around the world. His skill in understanding and then translating a client’s needs into genuine visual and tactile experiences, honed through residential work, is reflected in the meticulous detail present across project scales, from hospitality to cultural endeavors. Responding to each project’s basic function as shelter—whether a permanent residence or temporary stopping place—his designs encompass scale, proportion, materiality, light and other biophilic considerations to create healthy, comfortable buildings.

Collaboration & Craft

Kevin is known for his collaborative design approach, grounded in partnership with his clients and teammates, and enlivened by his signature dry humor. He approaches each project as a new opportunity for dialogue with the client in pursuit of a mutual, fully bespoke vision. Kevin’s goal for each project is that all participants are vested in a collaborative process, encouraging a diversity of design ideas that surpass what any individual could achieve alone.

Craft and materiality are core elements of Kevin’s practice, and collaboration with artists, artisans, and craftspeople local to his projects deepens connections to place, while assuring a level of intimacy. His work materializes because of this collective nature—it cannot be conceived in isolation. This deliberate expression of craft and honest materiality lends his work a sense of tactility and authenticity, linking the built environment with its cultural context.

Simply put, architecture is not about the architect—it’s about recognizing when something is already beautiful. Our job is to be good stewards of the natural and cultural landscapes we work within.Kevin M. Kudo‑King, AIA, LEED AP
Principal / Owner
Bilgola Beach House

Projects
Bilgola Beach House
All Projects Designed by Kevin M. Kudo-King

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