Photo: Kevin Scott / Olson Kundig

Sawmill

Tehachapi, California

Set in the harsh high desert of California, Sawmill is a family retreat embedded into the tough, scrubby landscape. Sawmill harnesses the challenges and opportunities of its remote site, emphasizing sustainable strategies and reclaimed materials. Demonstrating that high design can also be high performance, Sawmill is a net‑zero home that operates completely off the grid.

Design Principal
Tom Kundig

Carbon Beach House

Malibu, California

Hale Napo’o

Hanalei, Hawaii

All Projects

Team

Design Principal
Tom Kundig
Project Manager
Elizabeth Bianchi Conklin

Awards

2018

AIA National COTE Top Ten Award

AIA National Small Project Award

2017

AIA National Housing Awards, Honor Award

AIA Northwest Pacific Region Citation Award

Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Awards, American Architecture Award

Publications

2023

Holl, Steven. “Half Earth.” Domus, Jan. 2023, 29-33, 48-53. Print.

Orsi, Veronica. “Zero emissions in the desert.” IFDM Online, 23 Sep. 2023. Web.

“‘Sawmill,’ An Off-Grid Vacation Residence in California.” Energy Efficient Buildings. Greece: Ktirio Editions, Mar. 2023, 26-35. Book.

2022

Rosenburg, Zoe. “The way we build homes is changing fast. Meet net-zero, the building technique that creates more energy than it consumes without skimping on style.” Business Insider, 11 Jul. 2022. Web.

“Sawmill by Olson Kundig: A Self-sufficient Home.” Re-thinking The Future, 9 Feb. 2022. Web.

2021

Baldwin, Eric. “Designing Net-Zero: California’s New Models for Integrated Housing.” ArchDaily, 13 Apr. 2021. Web.

Frighi, Valentina. Smart Architecture – A Sustainable Approach for Transparent Building Components Design. Switzerland: Springer Nature, Aug. 2021, 16. Book.

O’Leary, Devin D. “Plans for Proposed Sawmill Center for the Arts Unveiled.” The Paper, 8 Jun. 2021. Web.

2020

Arellano, Monica. “25 Projects Merged into the Diverse Landscape of California.” ArchDaily, 23 Jan. 2020. Web.

Knierim, Ashley. “11 of the Best Architecture Instagram Accounts.” The Spruce, 7 Jul. 2020. Web.

2019

Bradbury, Dominic. Off the Grid: Houses for Escape. London: Thames & Hudson, Mar. 2019, 158-165. Book.

Monié, Karine. “Olson Kundig’s Sustainable Single-Family Dwelling.” Digs, 30 May 2019. Web.

“Net-zero, desert hero.” OnOffice, July 2019, 63, 65. Print.

“Olson Kundig honored by Fast Company.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 6 Mar. 2019. Web.

2018

“2018 COTE Top Ten.” AIA, 19 April 2018. Web.

“Alla Conquista del West.” Azero, Sept. 2018, 66-75. Print.

Cogley, Bridget. ” AIA Recognizes The Best Small Projects In The US For 2018.” Dezeen, 6 June 2018. Web.

Comberg, Ella. “AIA Announces Winners of 2018 Small Project Awards.” ArchDaily, 6 June 2018. Web.

Cornachio, Jon. “Machines For Living: The Spectacular Kinetic Facades of Olson Kundig.” Architizer, 14 May 2018. Web.

Diaz, Jesus. “See 10 of America’s Most Inspiring Green Buildings.” Fast Company Design, 23 April 2018. Web.

Enlow, Clair. “Hilarious overabundance of good work greets AIA awards jury; 13 projects win.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 7 Nov. 2018, 1, 3, 8. Print.

Gerfen, Katie. “AIA Announces the Winners of the 2018 COTE Top Ten Project Awards.” ARCHITECT Online, 19 April 2018. Web.

“High Design Meets Net Zero: OK Wins AIA Award For Desert House.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 24 April 2018, 1. Print.

“High Design Meets Net Zero: OK Wins AIA Award For Desert House.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 24 April 2018. Web.

Hilsburg, Jonathan. “AIA Honors the Top Eleven Sustainable Buildings of 2018.” The Architect’s Newspaper, 20 April 2018. Web.

“Katoikia Sawmill.” KTIRIO, Sept. 2018, 68-75. Print.

Living in the Desert. New York: Phaidon, Nov. 2018, 238-245. Book.

“Off-the-grid Tehachapi home draws attention in architectural world.” Tehachapi News, 16 Aug. 2018. Web.

“Off-the-grid Tehachapi home draws attention in architectural world.” Tehachapi News, 22 Aug. 2018, 17, 20. Print.

Ro, Lauren. “11 of The Best Small Architecture Projects of 2018.” Curbed, 1 June 2018. Web.

“Sawmill is an off-grid canyon retreat made from salvaged and recycled materials.” Designboom, 1 Nov. 2018. Web.

“Sawmill Tehachapi, Calif. Olson Kundig.” ARCHITECT, Nov. 2018. Print.

Speros, Will. “AIA Announces 2018 COTE Top Ten Award Winners.” Contract, 27 April 2018. Web.