Striking a work-life balance when working from home setup can be challenging, but what if you had a home office that can move away from the house? Well, Seattle-based Olson Kundig Architects has created a home office for a designer with a certain je ne sais quoi.
Tom Kundig, the founder of Olson Kundig Architects, said somewhat teasingly that the home office should be placed on railroad tracks to offer the experience of commuting from home, and thus was born the idea to create the Maxon Studio.
Custom designed for the owner, Maxon Studio is built next to the Maxon House, a project for which Olson Kundig collaborated on a private residence set on 21 acres of forested area in the Pacific Northwest. The studio rolls down the rails to separate work and home life.
Located near the small city of Carnation, Washington, the office is parked next to the house when not in use. It can be easily moved to a spot of choice in the surrounding forest where the inspiration to work strikes.
Also Read: Solar-Powered Nova Mobile Office Reimagines the Idea of Shared Workspace
The Japanese high-speed railways became the muse for Olson Kundig team, who placed the two-story office edifice on a 15 feet gauge track. It also includes a stabilizing bar to keep the structure in place without tipping over even during an earthquake. Finished in weathered steel, the exterior has a unique worn look that contrasts the glazing to provide a view of the neighboring forest area and maximize natural light inside.
Olson Kundig explained, “The studio’s unique infrastructure is inspired by the legacy of the rail industry in the local region, as well as steel cables and railroad spikes discovered on the site during excavation for the main house. Like a traditional caboose, the studio’s lower level is the main working space, with a built-in desk and numerous shelves for storage and display. A steel-clad wall allows the workspace to be surrounded by visually inspiring materials that can be easily replaced as creative themes and assignments change.”
Also Read: Buxton Tiny House is 20 ft Poplar & Steel Clad Abode for Four
The two-story 300 sq. ft. interior of Maxon Studio contains the main working space with a desk and shelving at the lower level and a calming area to sit and relax at the upper level. The upper level can be accessed via a steel ladder with a small dumbwaiter to transport big and hefty items.
The 35,000 lbs mobile office is poised in custom wheels marked with the owner’s professional logo and is pushed via an electric motor connected to a retracting wire concealed behind one of the rails. The moveable home office is operated with a rewired wall-mounted vintage control panel, which was initially part of a Burlington Northern locomotive.
Follow Homecrux on Google News!
