Seattle-based design firm Olson Kundig Architects creates the new Maxon Studio that is attached to a primary residence. It is set on top of railroad tracks that allow it to entirely detach. The structure is made up of a two-story design made from weathering steel materials. It functions as a branding agency office for the clients and can be found in Carnation, Washington.
Design principal at Olson Kundig Architects Tom Kundig explains that "It’s a beautiful object, beautifully fabricated, but moving it along the track is another experience entirely. What Lou and Alpine [Welding] were able to achieve with reconfiguring the electronics of the control panel and elegantly allowing the electrical connection to unspool behind the studio is absolute brilliance. It’s a prime example of taking an idea 60 per cent or 70 per cent of the way, and then stepping aside to let an expert bring it fully to life."
Residence-Attached Railroad Studios
Olson Kundig Architects Creates the Maxon Studio
Trend Themes
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Modular Architecture — Designing buildings that can be easily dismantled and moved across a track provides an opportunity for the growing trend of modular architecture.
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Flexible Workspaces — The creation of an attached workspace to a primary residence establishes the growing need for flexible workspaces and the ability to work remotely.
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Sustainable Materials — The use of weathering steel materials provides an opportunity for sustainable materials and environmentally friendly building practices.
Industry Implications
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Architecture — The creation of the Maxon Studio by Olson Kundig Architects introduces an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the architecture industry with the use of movable structures and sustainable materials.
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Real Estate — Flexible workspace options like the Maxon Studio can change the dynamics of the real estate industry by providing a new type of residential/commercial property.
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Construction — Designing and constructing movable buildings like the Maxon Studio requires expertise and presents an opportunity for innovation in the construction industry.