Whether designing anew or working within an existing structure, Kirsten begins by asking, “What does it mean to inhabit this place?” As a generalist architect, she translates abstract principles into tangible design solutions across a range of typologies, from high-end to hard-working spaces. Drawing from Scandinavian modernism, she emphasizes warmth, natural materials, tactile experiences, and refined details. Her drive is clear: “I want to make great places people enjoy.”

In her monograph, Every day, Kirsten expands on this theme through a selection of intimate and large-scale projects.

Kirsten’s cross-disciplinary approach drives high-impact projects across North America, Europe, and Asia, encompassing residences, mixed-use buildings, galleries, museums, and urban designs. Her designs balance functionality and elegance, enriched by proportion, light, spatial flow, and tactile materials.

With an elemental approach, Kirsten creates contextually relevant spaces that integrate private and communal areas, fostering community and engagement between the natural and built environment. From concept to completion, she collaborates with clients, colleagues, and communities to realize these connective spaces. In private and residential projects, she captures her clients’ character and needs into built form, while in larger public projects, she unites diverse stakeholders to develop a cohesive design vision that addresses varied needs.

Kirsten’s work spans complex projects like multi-family developments, cultural institutions, and urban revitalization, applying residential design principles that center the user experience. In luxury multi-family projects like Mill District, she weaves green spaces and courtyards within the mixed-use neighborhood to strengthen community connection. The Cortland, a high-rise residential tower, combines rich interior materials with Chelsea’s industrial and artistic energy to create a family-centered urban lifestyle.

In the adaptive reuse sector, Kirsten preserves the history of existing buildings through layered experiences. In 8899 Beverly Boulevard, an iconic office tower is transformed into residential units and reinvigorates engagement with the urban landscape of West Hollywood. The 800 5th Avenue Repositioning revitalizes an existing office tower with generous, publicly accessible gardens and open courtyards, bridging gaps in the urban fabric.

Similarly, Kirsten’s cultural work supports shared experiences and community through the intersections of new and old, people and place, and art and architecture. Her impact is visible in nuanced and bold gestures: Paradise Road Housing at Smith College prioritizes social interaction in dorm units and public spaces; the Tacoma Art Museum Haub Galleries extends the museum’s art to neighboring sidewalks; and the Plains Art Museum Master Plan links adjacent buildings to enhance the museum’s public presence.

Guided by her ethos, “bloom where you’re planted,” Kirsten has overseen the evolution of Olson Kundig into an internationally acclaimed design firm with over 350 team members. She has steered a multi-generational culture of continuous learning and mentorship, co-founding initiatives that earned the firm the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Firm Award in 2009.

Kirsten’s contributions to architecture led to her elevation to the AIA College of Fellows in 2016. She has served as chair, trustee, treasurer, and vice-chair on the National AIA Trust Board and as Treasurer of AIA Seattle. Active on juries, she has participated in the Blueprint Awards, AIA National Awards, AIA Florida/Caribbean Design Awards, AIA Texas Design Awards, World Architectural News (WAN) Female Frontier Awards, and Archiproducts Design Awards, among others.

As an industry figure, Kirsten is a frequent speaker and panelist at events such as a multi-part webinar series for Hewlett Packard, London Festival of Architecture, Chicago Architecture Biennial, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, and as keynote speaker at the AIA Virginia Design Forum. Recently, she was the commencement speaker for the College of Architecture, Arts + Design at Virginia Tech, her alma mater.

Kirsten’s work has won local, regional, and national AIA awards across typologies, from commercial and multi-family projects like 800 5th Avenue Repositioning and 8899 Beverly Boulevard, to housing projects like Art Stable and Outpost, and museum projects like Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Her work has also been recognized by the Architizer A+ Awards, LIV Hospitality Design Awards, the Chicago Athenaeum, and more.

Additionally, Kirsten appears on podcasts and contributes to design publications like Architectural Digest and Metropolis. She has been profiled by Madame Architect, and her work featured in outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Interior Design, Architectural Record, Architecture, and more.