Unveiling the Maxon Studio: Coho Films and Architectural Digest Bring Olson Kundig’s Kinetic Masterpiece to Life

When Architectural Digest commissioned Coho Films for a short documentary on the Maxon House—a kinetic architectural landmark by Seattle’s renowned Olson Kundig firm—we knew it had to be more than a video. It had to capture movement, materiality, and narrative in perfect harmony.

An Inspired Concept: The Studio That Commutes

Nestled on a forested bluff near Carnation, Washington, Maxon House is a 3,200 ft² modern family home. But it’s the adjacent two-story, 300 ft² steel tower—the “Maxon Studio”—that steals the show. Mounted on a 15‑foot gauge railroad track, it literally rolls away from the main house into the woods—a bold reinterpretation of home-office separation dwell.com+3architecturaldigest.com+3shanwong.design+3olsonkundig.com+9designboom.com+9olsonkundig.press.camronglobal.com+9olsonkundig.press.camronglobal.com+5newatlas.com+5homecrux.com+5. We approached the documentary with this dynamic movement as our visual centerpiece, crafting scenes that emphasize both the tactile elegance and engineering ambition of Olson Kundig’s design.

Highlighting Ingenious Details Through Film

Our documentary focuses on the genius of material contrasts and mechanical nuance:

• Repurposed train parts: From a Burlington Northern locomotive control panel to Great Northern railroad ties, we filmed these details to showcase how history and design fuse in the structure homecrux.com+5olsonkundig.press.camronglobal.com+5yankodesign.com+5.

• Weathered steel and glass: By emphasizing the studio’s dramatic patina and expansive glazing, we visually communicate its dialogue with the forest and sky .

• Vertical vs. horizontal form: Our cinematography underscores how the tower’s vertical ascent complements the horizontal sweep of the main house, framing both architecture and landscape in coherent tension olsonkundig.com+9olsonkundig.com+9designboom.com+9.

Crafting Motion Through Cinematic Storytelling

To bring the kinetic studio to life, we employed:

1. Tracking shots alongside the studio’s movement, capturing its commute into the woods.

2. Close-up transitions of mechanical gears, steel tracks, and the re-spooling motor wire—highlighting the interplay of form and function.

3. Ambient soundscapes of forest, steel wheels on rail, and wood floor creaks, paired with voice-over from Tom Kundig to tell the story of his playful idea becoming reality dwell.com+1designboom.com+1maxonhouse.com+7architecturaldigest.com+7dwell.com+7.

Working with Architectural Digest: A Creative Partnership

Collaborating with Architectural Digest was a seamless fit—both in narrative vision and production excellence. Their editorial expertise paired with our craft allowed us to weave a documentary that felt both elevated and accessible. The result is a visual exploration that honors Olson Kundig’s legacy of “architecture as machine”—where movement, material, and meaning converge .

Want to showcase architecture in motion?
At Coho Films, we specialize in cinematic storytelling for architectural icons, from kinetic studios to landmark residences and cultural spaces. Our Seattle-based production approach merges documentary storytelling with production precision to reveal the heart—and mechanics—of design.