Episode 42 - Costa Rica Treehouse and Rio House with Olson Kundig

In this episode I am joined by the architect Tom Kundig of the Seattle based studio Olson Kundig. We talk about two of their projects, the Costa Rica Treehouse and Rio House.

Costa Rica Treehouse is a property built entirely of locally harvested teak wood. It is inspired by the jungle of its densely forested site on the Pacific Coast and rises above the tree canopy to provide views of the surf at nearby Playa Hermosa beach.

Rio House is a steel and glass box that hovers above the land, supported by two concrete piers. The property provides a discreet hideaway for the owner couple to retreat from the distractions of city life. The elevated living space provides spectacular views of Rio de Janeiro, the sea and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue.

In the interview we discuss the similar and the contrasting themes across the two projects. Both homes are elevated from the ground,  designed to respond passively to their environments and  are very open to the elements, yet both of them are totally unique to their context and to their owners.

At the end of the episode, I ask Tom the three questions I ask all my podcast guests;
– what really annoys him about his home?
– what house has he visited that has really inspired him?
– and, if he could choose anyone to design him a new house, who would he choose?

Photos of Costa Rica Treehouse by Nic Lehoux

Photos of Rio House by Maira Acayaba