In the last few posts, we looked at antiquities and at how they can be inspiring in fashion, or attempted juxtapositions between works of art inspired by antiquities and contemporary collections. Let's continue this exercise of juxtapositions and comparisons, but apply it to architecture and explore something more unusual and bizarre than antiquities.
It's always intriguing to examine illustrations from the past that attempted to predict the future. Often, we encounter bizarre inventions, although occasionally, clever minds correctly foresaw innovations that would revolutionize our lives – consider, for instance, video calls, a concept frequently depicted in early science fiction films.
In the early 20th century, the German Hildebrands chocolate company produced postcards showcasing futuristic visions, ranging from personal flying machines (View this photo) and weather control devices (View this photo) to roofs that protected cities from the rain (View this photo). Among the fantastical ideas depicted, some seemed utterly improbable, but one of them was in fact realized to some extent.
One such postcard featured buildings that could be moved along rails using steam engines. While the notion of relocating a building via railroad tracks is undoubtedly bizarre and impossible, a while back, Olson Kundig Studio, in collaboration with Maxon Studio, designed an extension to a house located in Washington that can be transported along a 15-foot-gauge railroad track.
The two-story steel tower office, intended to accommodate Lou Maxon's branding agency in Carnation, Washington, is indeed mounted on rails and can be detached and relocated within the Pacific Northwestern woods, outside Seattle.
This innovative concept, conceived by principal Tom Kundig and client/contractor Lou Maxon, embodies Olson Kundig Architects ethos and aligns with the studio's vision. Founded by Jim Olson in 1966, the firm has designed throughout the years numerous cabins enabling residents to engage with the natural landscape outside the building.
In the case of the Maxon Project, rather than a static home office, the architectural studio devised a movable space that harmonizes with both its host building and with the external environment. This is a proper office with a conceptual twist about it since the detachable building was conceived as part of the commute experience.
The studio comprises two levels: the lower level serves as the primary workspace, featuring a built-in desk and ample storage and display shelves, while the upper level, accessible via a steel ladder, offers a serene setting for creative exploration, akin to a cupola on a train's caboose, providing panoramic views of the landscape.
Interestingly, the design was not inspired by futuristic sci-fi concepts but rather by the region's railway heritage. Discovering steel cables and railroad spikes during excavation for the main house prompted innovative solutions.
Throughout the studio, subtle references to the local rail industry abound. The control panel, sourced from a Burlington Northern locomotive, now manages the electrical acceleration and braking.
The studio door's yellow hue matches the original DuPont paint used on Great Northern trains, while plywood cladding pays homage to railcar interiors.
Authentic wooden railroad ties, repurposed from a Great Northern Railroad relay line, and a stabilizing bar that prevents the tower from tipping during an earthquake (inspired by Japanese high-speed railways), further emphasize the studio's connection to railway design and safety.
This project, futuristic and imaginative, encapsulates dynamism, creativity, and a reverence for industrial traditions, the environment and mental wellness. After all, while some may find a bustling and noisy environment more inspiring, quite often silence and a full immersion into nature can have a regenerative effect on a burdened mind.
Could this concept inspire fashion? Well, trains have appeared on runways as props before (remember Galliano's Haute Couture A/W 1998-99 collection for Dior and Marc Jacobs's A/W 2012 collection for Louis Vuitton?), but it would be very intriguing to see if a fashion designer creating a collection in such a studio would benefit from its dynamism and contact with nature and come up with very unique designs. Food for thought. But, for today, let's just dream about the perfect house with a detachable cabin that could travel in a picturesque landscape (actually, it could also be a good idea for a Lego set…).
Image credits for this post
Images 2 – 9: Maxon Studio by Olson Kundig, photographs by Aaron Leitz