Inside a Modern Moving Home On Railroad Tracks | Unique Spaces | Architectural Digest

Today AD travels to the woodlands of the Pacific Northwest to tour Maxon House. Designed by Tom Kundig, owner of Olson Kundig Architects, Maxon House is a modern home revolutionizing the work commute. Work/life balance is given new meaning in Kundig’s design–a fully detachable home office on wheels journeys across a functional rail track into the forest creating an innovative work-from-home setup. With no shortage of ingenious features, Maxon House is a marriage of form and function and a prime example of modernist design.


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[maxzett]

I watched this whole video just to NOT be able to see how it looks when the tower is "attached" to the house...?! FOR REAL?!?!?!

[elevenhorses]

My mind wanted the tracks to keep going deeper into the woods & make a big scenic loop. :O)

[kittykatmeow]

a train nerd in his dream office. I love it.

[jonicottle]

How often do you reckon he just walks out the door cus it’s faster

[benjamingoetz_art]

I truly wanted to see the visual of office connected to bedroom and that effect, the lighting that would change through the then adjacent structure. I think it’s a real faux pas in the visionary “selling point” of attached vs. non-attached in this very unique concept. Gorgeous nonetheless, and quite stunning integration into the landscape.

[originaluddite]

Architect: Architectural talk.

Owner: I really just love trains.

[gardgarland]

Architecture is at its roots a series of problem solving moments. Some very basic, some with flair. I have 2 Kundig books and I’m always amazed at how he and his staff solve these problems often with uniqueness and creativity. Love this house.

[John_Locke_]

Perfect example of why you don't design form over function.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

[arrowguy]

Love the classic train collection. The track idea is perfect way to blend a train enthusiast with a functional secluded office. Just cool.

[soffa]

"modernism is a rational building style. how do you make a building efficient?" Apparently by putting a shed on rails so it can move 20 meters and you don't have to walk.

[tgxleasing]

I love that he was able to secure an EMD control stand to operate the structure. Hats off to him. 👏

[mhogen]

Moving part of a house? Feels like a novelty thing rather than functionality.

[stysner]

The location is everything. The house is cool but it's definitely carried by the environment.

[whou]

A gate with no fence. Rusty steel for the material. A piling foundation that is 'floating'. A basic rectangle for the house. Polished concrete floors. Cabinets in the kitchen and walls that aren't rusty steel are simply varnished plywood. A small building that moves on rails. A lot of thought went into creating a basic structure, made if basic materials with a party trick of a building on rails. This seems to be an example of the artists of architecture being so deep in their bubble that they can't see that the emperor has no clothes.

[bblueblue]

I would like a toy train running around the whole studio. That’d be awesome! 😊😊😊 and a lounge chair whenever I feel like taking a nap. This would be heaven.😊

[gio.c]

I absolutely love this house! If you paid attention to the story you will realize that trains are very special to the owner where your place should accommodate your favorite things in the world. The proposal is absolutely selfish and that is the whole idea, it doesn’t have to be functional because it’s about a space that will inspire you to have crazy ideas while having fun. It’s a very personal space, not a staged house for everyone’s pleasure. Every detail and its simplicity have got a lot of thought into them.

[ebooklibrary]

I am struck. This is what true architectural genius looks like

[arrowguy]

Railroads built this country and did so sometimes with phenomenal engineering. This is a fantastic tribute to all that made our towns and cities possible especially in remote regions.

[mikedonovan]

A truly whimsical double wide trailer.

[IskandarSitdikov]

One of the coolest videos about architecture I've seen casually drops Tuesday afternoon 😅