Few architecture firms master the intersection of raw industrial materials and tactile, kinetic magic quite like Olson Kundig.
Whether they are placing a modern studio on railroad tracks, or designing a sprawling tropical sanctuary in Hawaii, Tom Kundig and his team consistently find ways to make static buildings move, breathe, and interact dynamically with their surrounding landscapes.
Their latest creation, the Sky View Residence, set against the rugged high-desert terrain of Sun Valley, Idaho, takes that signature mechanical genius to new heights.
Kinetic Magic in the High Desert
Spanning 7,190 square feet, the residence is built from a palette of board-formed concrete, exposed steel, floor-to-ceiling glass, and warm timber.
Rather than flattening the land, the house straddles a natural arroyo, using its concrete base to mirror the sheltered, cooler conditions of the ravine below.
Above, elevated living spaces wrapped in grid-framed windows look out across expansive meadow and mountain views.
But the crown jewel sits at the very top of the house.
Perched on the upper level is a warm, timber-lined music room equipped with one of Kundig’s trademark oversized hand wheels. With a few manual turns of the hand crank, the entire roof retracts backward, peeling away the ceiling to turn an intimate indoor lounge into a open-air sky observatory.
During the day, it captures the moving shadows of clouds; by night, it turns stargazing into an immersive, living-room ritual.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Sun Valley, Idaho |
| Architect | Olson Kundig (Design Principal: Tom Kundig) |
| Footprint | 7,190 sq. ft. |
| Primary Materials | Board-formed concrete, structural steel, glass, timber |
| Highlight | Hand-cranked retractable roof over top-floor music room |
Like their iconic Delta Shelter, which uses hand-cranked steel shutters to open and close a cabin in the North Cascades, or their thoughtful, light-filled urban church design, the Sky View Residence celebrates architecture as an active experience rather than a static backdrop.
It’s a masterclass in architectural theater, and inspiring for those of us that seek balance that great design brings.
Images © Copyright Olson Kundig.
Edited by Ben VanderVeen · About Moss & Fog
