mork-ulnes architects rounds up its greatest works with monograph 'the craft of place'

A Reflection on Materials, Traditions, and Context

Mork-Ulnes Architects has released its first monograph, The Craft of Place, which encapsulates the firm’s thoughtful approach to architecture. Known for its ability to harmonize regional traditions with modern innovation, the studio, founded by Casper Mork-Ulnes, has consistently integrated a nuanced understanding of place into its work. With offices in San Francisco and Oslo, the team blends the sensibilities of Scandinavian pragmatism with the playful, experimental spirit of Californian design.

The Craft of Place, published by Park Books, presents a narrative centered on the themes of materials, traditions, sustainability, scale, and light. This focus reflects the studio’s dedication to rooting its designs in specific environmental and cultural contexts. For Casper Mork-Ulnes, this is a core aspect of the firm’s philosophy, where the history of a location and its vernacular traditions guide its architectural expressions. In its projects, the convergence of distinct cultural impulses creates a tension between restraint and playfulness — something that has come to define its body of work.

Mork Ulnes, The Craft of Place, book cover

Mork-Ulnes Architects’ Interplay of history and Innovation

The Craft of Place explores Mork-Ulnes Architects’ method of researching and translating traditional building techniques into contemporary contexts. Casper Mork-Ulnes highlights the importance of studying vernacular architecture, noting that hand-crafted structures — whether by farmers or architects — carry knowledge passed down through generations. These buildings, developed out of necessity, possess intrinsic material qualities that the architect seeks to preserve and adapt in new settings. By integrating these traditional methods with modern materials and needs, the studio forges connections between past and present, regional and global.

‘We see great value in studying historic structures,’ says Casper Mork-Ulnes with the publication of his studio’s new monograph, ‘whether they have been designed by architects or farmers. Vernacular buildings that have developed out of necessity are a physical testament to traditional knowledge, and can still lay the foundation of a construction logic today. Such hand-crafted architecture has apparent, intrinsic material qualities that can create connections across generations and cultures.

‘A deep engagement with material and its traditional use is therefore a central part of our practice. In exploring traditional methods, materials, and forms in new contexts, we are able to create dynamic connections while preserving and learning from the vernacular.’

Skigard Hytte, Kvitfjell Resort, Fåvang, Norway, 2019 | image © Bruce Damonte

One of the standout projects featured in The Craft of Place is Skigard Hytte, a mountain cabin in Kvitfjell, Norway. Mork-Ulnes Architects’ thoughtful blend of traditional Norwegian construction techniques with modernist design principles exemplifies their ability to reinterpret vernacular architecture. The cabin, clad in locally sourced pine and built using a traditional skigard fence technique, speaks to its surroundings while introducing a contemporary living space. This project illustrates the studio’s commitment to grounding its architecture in local materials and methods, a theme that resonates throughout the book.

In the monograph, Mork-Ulnes Architects explores the importance of studying vernacular buildings — structures that have evolved out of necessity and reflect traditional knowledge. For the studio, vernacular architecture is a source of wisdom, offering insights into materials, sustainability, and the logic of construction. Skigard Hytte embodies this philosophy, as the design draws from traditional techniques to create a modern mountain retreat.

Octothorpe House, Bend, Oregon, 2022 | image © Jeremy Bittermann / JBSA

Another project that demonstrates Mork-Ulnes Architects’ ability to respond to the specificities of place is the Octothorpe House in Bend, Oregon. Set in a fire-prone landscape, this residence incorporates charred wood cladding — a traditional Japanese technique known as shou sugi ban — to mitigate the risks of future wildfires. In The Craft of Place, this project serves as a case study in how architecture can adapt to challenging environmental conditions while maintaining a connection to local traditions. The Octothorpe House exemplifies the studio’s innovative use of materials and further highlights its commitment to sustainability, another key theme in the book.

Mylla Hytte, Mylla, Norway, 2017 | image © Bruce Damonte

The Craft of Place also explores the role of light and scale in shaping Mork-Ulnes Architects’ work. Projects such as the Crest Guesthouse in California, a compact 38-square-meter retreat perched on a steep hillside, demonstrate the firm’s understanding of scale and its ability to create spaces that feel expansive despite their modest size. The Crest Guesthouse integrates large windows that frame sweeping views of the landscape, allowing natural light to flood and expand the interior. In the book, this project is presented as an example of how light can transform a space, creating an intimate connection between architecture and its environment.

As Mork-Ulnes Architects reflects on its past projects, it also looks forward to fostering a broader architectural discourse. Edited by Casper Mork-Ulnes and featuring contributions from Joseph Becker and Anne Marit Lunde, the monograph invites readers to consider the evolving relationship between architecture, landscape, and tradition. Through its work, the firm demonstrates that architecture is not a static practice but an ongoing dialogue between cultures, materials, and environments.

Crest Guesthouse, San Anselmo, Marin County, California, 2023 | image © Bruce Damonte