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
1. Modular Architecture - Designing buildings that can be easily dismantled and moved across a track provides an opportunity for the growing trend of modular architecture.
2. 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.
3. Sustainable Materials - The use of weathering steel materials provides an opportunity for sustainable materials and environmentally friendly building practices.
Industry Implications
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Construction - Designing and constructing movable buildings like the Maxon Studio requires expertise and presents an opportunity for innovation in the construction industry.