The Craft of Place: Mork-Ulnes Architects

Mork-Ulnes Architects is an internationally operating architecture firm with offices in San Francisco and Oslo. Since its founding by Casper Mork-Ulnes in 2005, the firm has built on three continents and worked on projects at a variety of scales, from master plans and mixed-use buildings to ground-up residences and 100-square-foot cabins. They approach projects with both Scandinavian practicality and a Californian can-do spirit of innovation, resulting in buildings that are characterised by both playfulness and restraint. The Craft of Place is Mork-Ulnes Architects’ first monograph. In a reflective manner structured around themes of materials, traditions, sustainability, scale, and light, this work explores the firm’s approach to integrating architecture within diverse environments. The book delves into their method of balancing object and landscape, an approach rooted in the distinct cultural topographies of California and Norway, discussing as well the influence of local vernacular and materials. The beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated volume showcases Mork-Ulnes Architects’ dedication to detail, context, and the evolution of their architecture through the interplay of tradition and innovation.