Welcome to the Archello Podcast, architecture’s most visual podcast series. Listen as Archello's Paris-based Editor in Chief, Collin Anderson, sits down with architects to discuss their careers and projects. Each audio episode is accompanied by a rich visual storyboard which listeners can use to follow the discussion.
Introducing Alan Maskin - Principal and owner at Olson Kundig
In this episode, Archello connects with Seattle-based architect Alan Maskin. Maskin is a principal and owner at Olson Kundig, a design powerhouse known for pushing the boundaries between architecture and art. With projects that span the globe like the iconic renovation of Seattle’s Space Needle and the Bill & Melinda Gates Discovery Center, Maskin’s work brings a fresh perspective to how we interact with space.
Olson Kundig is renowned for its commitment to materiality, sustainability, and storytelling in design, making Maskin a fascinating guest to explore these ideas with.
Listen and scroll as Maskin reflects on his unconventional path to architecture, his passion for drawing and hands-on design, and his transformative projects.
On evolving from teacher to architect
Maskin began his journey into architecture from an unexpected starting point. "I was a teacher. I was an art educator. I had an art practice," Maskin recalls. It was his love for drawing that propelled him to seek a career where he could draw every single day. This led him to a conversation with an architect parent of one of the children he taught, who gave him three pieces of advice: study at the University of Washington in Seattle, participate in its renowned Rome study program, and work at Olson Walker (now Olson Kundig).
Maskin began his journey into architecture from an unexpected starting point. "I was a teacher. I was an art educator. I had an art practice," Maskin recalls. It was his love for drawing that propelled him to seek a career where he could draw every single day. This led him to a conversation with an architect parent of one of the children he taught, who gave him three pieces of advice: study at the University of Washington in Seattle, participate in its renowned Rome study program, and work at Olson Walker (now Olson Kundig).
On celebrating the pacific northwest
The natural beauty and dynamic culture of the Pacific Northwest have been central to Maskin’s work and Olson Kundig’s ethos. "We live on the unstable edge of the Pacific Rim," he notes, highlighting the region’s volcanoes, forests, and waterways as integral influences.
Maskin also praises the architectural community in the Pacific Northwest, describing it as vibrant and deeply connected to the region’s identity. He also points to the inspiration drawn from the landscape and the collaborative spirit of local architects.
"There’s wonderful, beautiful work that comes out of this place that’s specific to this region."
On working in a city of innovation and opportunity
Reflecting on Seattle’s transformation over the past three decades, Maskin highlights the city’s deep-rooted startup culture, which predates the tech boom of recent years. "Jeff Bezos started in a garage on the east side," Maskin notes, emphasizing how the growth of tech companies like Amazon created ripple effects for architecture firms.
As these organizations expanded, they needed not only workspaces but also homes and community spaces for their employees and families. This evolution offered opportunities for architects to design projects that balanced innovation with livability. For Olson Kundig, residential architecture has long been a cornerstone of its work—what Maskin calls a "testing ground"—allowing the firm to experiment and refine its design approach.
Meanwhile, the firm’s non-residential projects have expanded its reach globally, blending public, cultural, and residential work that reflects the unique identities of its designers and the communities they serve.
On a collaborative office with a hands-on workshop culture
At the heart of Olson Kundig’s longevity is its people-focused ethos. "While people come for the work, they stay for the people," Maskin says, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative and inclusive office culture. The firm’s shared sense of adventure and commitment to fostering creativity ensures that projects are a collective achievement.
At the heart of Olson Kundig’s longevity is its people-focused ethos. "While people come for the work, they stay for the people," Maskin says, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative and inclusive office culture. The firm’s shared sense of adventure and commitment to fostering creativity ensures that projects are a collective achievement.
Maskin attributes much of Olson Kundig’s success to its workshop-like culture. The firm emphasizes hands-on learning and collaboration. "We have a shop where architects can get their hands dirty, and we host skill-building workshops for everything from steelwork to AI tool," he says.
Weekly design critiques and internal competitions foster creativity and innovation.
On the power of iteration and focus
For Maskin, the process of iteration and focused exploration is central to the craft of architecture. He reflects on the importance of creating distraction-free spaces where ideas can be fully developed, and shares his own daily ritual of drawing during his 35-minute ferry commute across Puget Sound. In the quiet room on the boat, free from interruptions, he lets his hand and mind work together to set the tone for his day. "They’re not beautiful drawings," he says, "but they’re about conveying ideas."
"There's something that happens when your eye and your hand and your brain are just working together."
This practice mirrors the ethos of Olson Kundig, where iteration and hands-on making are key to design. Maskin ties this philosophy back to the firm’s origins under Jim Olson, whose early work emphasized craft and collaboration with artists. "It’s about pushing and expanding ideas, pulling research into making, and really taking the time to explore."
On evolving Olson Kundig’s legacy
When Alan Maskin joined Olson Kundig, the firm’s foundation in craft and collaboration was already well-established under Jim Olson’s leadership. "Jim was deeply interested in engaging artists and craftspeople in the work, which was really unusual at the time," Maskin notes.
This focus on artistry and detail created an ethos that attracted Maskin and others, including Tom Kundig, to the firm. Olson Kundig began as a regional practice known for balancing large conceptual ideas with meticulous attention to detail. "We can take things down to a hinge if we need to," Maskin says, "but we’re equally invested in the larger ideas of architecture."
"We're part of something that's essentially a shared adventure. And making every building is a shared adventure in many respects. It's not something you do on your own. And so making that as pleasurable and as interesting and fascinating and pushing people and the ability for projects to push people way beyond their own their imagined capacities, I think, has been something that's been at the heart of what we try to do."
On early projects and discovering a passion for public design
Maskin’s first project at Olson Kundig—a fence design for one of Jim Olson’s clients—was a humble start but set the tone for his career. Three years later, his art background came into play when Olson Kundig received a call from the Frye Art Museum in Seattle. Initially tasked with designing banners and updating a wood floor, the project expanded into a full transformation of the museum.
Despite his lack of museum experience, Maskin worked closely with Rick Sundberg to reimagine the institution, marking a pivotal moment in his career. This experience shifted Maskin’s focus toward public and cultural design. "There were so many talented people doing world-class residential architecture, but the public realm fascinated me," he says.
"When you work on a design of a project and it gets built and it and it turns out the way you intended it to turn out and your and it or it exceeds your expectations - there's no feeling like that."
On renovating the Space Needle by honoring and innovating
Maskin’s involvement in the Space Needle renovation began unexpectedly. Initially, his role was to support a friend from an advertising firm working on an interactive website for the iconic structure. But what was first intended to be a digital project eventually turned into a comprehensive renovation plan.
Maskin’s involvement in the Space Needle renovation began unexpectedly. Initially, his role was to support a friend from an advertising firm working on an interactive website for the iconic structure. But what was first intended to be a digital project eventually turned into a comprehensive renovation plan.
Built in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair, the Space Needle was a bold statement of modern architecture, designed to inspire awe with its futuristic form and innovative engineering.
Over the years, however, its narrative shifted. The building became a symbol of kitsch rather than the high-level design originally envisioned. By the time Maskin and his team began their assessment, the structure was cluttered with decades of operational additions. “It was a mess,” Maskin explains, but beneath the surface were the elegant, forward-thinking intentions of the original architects.
The renovation was rooted in subtraction—removing layers of accumulated distractions to reveal the core beauty of the Space Needle’s design. Maskin and his colleague Blair Payson began by proposing bold ideas, including the world’s first rotating glass floor, an innovation that would allow visitors to literally look down on Seattle through a transparent surface.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was discovering and amplifying hidden elements of the Space Needle’s design. Maskin recalls crawling into a plenum space beneath the structure’s base and discovering a forgotten view of the legs and outdoor elevators. This moment inspired the creation of the “oculus stair,” a feature that now allows visitors to experience these structural details in a completely new way.
Additionally, they increased the structure’s use of glass by 200 percent, enhancing the panoramic observation experience while maintaining the integrity of the original design. Maskin recalls the technical and creative challenges of the project.
Prototyping and testing were extensive, requiring the team to collaborate with engineers specializing in spacecraft technology to develop systems for the rotating glass floor. “It’s a kinetic piece of architecture,” Maskin says, highlighting the precision and durability required to make it a seamless, functional part of the structure.
The project also prioritized sustainability, earning LEED Gold certification through the use of eco-friendly materials and systems, as well as reusing the existing structure. Maskin underscores the importance of preserving and enhancing historic buildings as a sustainable design strategy. “The biggest move is to transform and preserve, and then build on that,” he says.
Beyond its technical achievements, the Space Needle renovation has reshaped how people interact with architecture. Visitors lean against glass walls, lie on the rotating glass floor, and explore the structure with a sense of wonder and physical engagement. Maskin marvels at the emotional and experiential connections people make with the renovated landmark. “Kids are fearless,” he says, describing how families now share moments of discovery and excitement at the site.
On the importance of interactive design
Maskin’s early career as a daycare teacher influenced his architectural approach, highlighting the need for thoughtful design for young people. “There was very little good design for children,” he recalls, which inspired one of his first major projects at Olson Kundig: creating a children’s museum and exhibits for the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
The experience taught him the importance of designing spaces that engage people on multiple levels, beyond just visual appeal. “There are many ways people absorb information—through reading, science, music, or physical movement,” Maskin notes, emphasizing the power of tactile and sensory interactions.
“The most meaningful experiences often happen when kids and families engage together in a space...There’s more to experiencing a space than just using your eyes or your brain.”
On competitions and redefining architecture through storytelling
Maskin notes that some architects excel at bringing projects through personal connections, while his strength lies in generating and presenting compelling ideas. Competitions have been a key avenue for him, starting with his role in Olson Kundig’s winning art museum design early in his career: "Competitions challenge us to reimagine what architects can do."
A standout example is the "Fairy Tales" competition, where Maskin and collaborator Jerome Tryon envisioned a network of activated rooftops for urban farming and energy harvesting. Their ten-foot mural was paired with a science fiction story, renderings, and even a short film, ultimately winning the global competition.
Maskin reflects, "It pushed us to explore new tools and ways of storytelling." This inventive spirit extends to nontraditional projects, such as designing the world’s first human composting facility and curating exhibitions on Bob Dylan’s life. "It’s not work most architects do," Maskin notes, "but it’s deeply fulfilling to apply architectural skills to unexpected challenges."
"I think it's really important to realize that architecture and the making of architecture very strongly borrows from narrative and storytelling, in that it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. And there's an arc that gets you there."
