Jim Olson’s Urban Sanctuary occupies a compact apartment on the upper levels of a nine-story building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square Historic District. Jim led the design and development of the building, completed in 1987, with a team of colleagues. He and his wife, Katherine, chose a two-story space inside the building to create a truly unique home for themselves, and have lived there for 35 years. The apartment design has continued to evolve over time, serving as a laboratory for Jim to explore his ideas about space, light, architecture, urban living and integration of art into everyday life.
Photo: Aaron Leitz
Urban Sanctuary
Seattle, Washington
Outpost
Bellevue, Idaho
JOEY Kitchen University Village
Seattle, Washington
Team
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Josh Aylett
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Tod Heistemen
Rik Adams -
Michelle Arab
ChiaLin Ma
Awards
1989
AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Honor Award
Publications
2010
Kliczkowski, Guillermo Raul. “Cabaña Olson.” Casas Internacional No. 122, Casas Compactas. Buenos Aires: Kliczkowski Publisher, 2010, 50-55. Book.
2003
Savage, Anna Joe. “Art At Home.” Seattle Magazine, Spring 2003, 11. Print.
1993
Hathorn, Clay. “What’s Up Downtown.” Seattle Magazine, Aug. 1993, 44-47, 57. Print.
1990
Krakauer, Jon. “James Olson: Melding Art and Architecture in an Urban Seattle Apartment.” Architectural Digest, Feb. 1990, 92-95. Print.
1980
Mills, Dale Douglas. “High Above the Market.” The Seattle Times, 26 Oct. 1980, 40-45. Print.