HISTORY AND THEORY OF THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE

14.01.2014

PETER ZUMTHOR
Peter Zumthor is one of the most important Swiss architects. He was born in 1943 in Basel. He apprenticed to a carpenter in 1958 and studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule. In 1966, Zumthor studied industrial design and architecture as an exchange student at Pratt Institute in New York. In 1968, he became conservationist architect for the Department for the Preservation of Monuments of the canton of Graubnden. This work on historic restoration projects gave him a further understanding of construction and the qualities of different rustic building materials. As his practice developed, Zumthor was able to incorporate his knowledge of materials into Modernist construction and detailing. Except buildings Zumthor also is an author of 4th books; Thinking Architecture, Atmospheres, Peter Zumthor Therme Vals and Seeing Zumthor. In my work I would like to focus on book Thinking Architecture. On first pages author explains us what is the architecture for him. It is not a message for people or sign, it is a background for passing life. As a consequence of this thesis Zumthor wants to design buildings, which with running time in obvious way they are accrete with surroundings and historical aspects of place. Furthermore Zumthor does not want overwhelm users with great and complicated architecture solutions. He prefer modest and simplier way of design. He claims that sometimes the simpliest way of arrangement is the most powerful. An example of that can be Saint Benedict Chapel in Sumvitg in Switzerland, built in 1989.

Aleksandra Julia Franz, student id 816210

HISTORY AND THEORY OF THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE

14.01.2014

When I start, my first idea for a building is with the material. I believe architecture is about that. Its not about paper, its not about forms. Its about space and material. Zumthor used modern materials and techniques for this particular design, the cylindar-shaped chapel blends naturally into its context, without offending the traditional and historical dimension of the Alpine village. For example, the chapel is constructed with wooden shingles and snips, similar to the local traditional houses. The machine is a thing that has no superfluous parts- William Carlos Williams With this citation Peter Zumthor began chapter titled The Hard core of beauty. He agrees with that thought totally. Moreover he develops that and matches to architecture. He treats building in some ways like a machine. Building is an artificial thing made up from a lot of elements, which need to be linked together. Quality of connections affects on quality of finished objects. As a consequence this way of thinking and designing Peter Zumthor always emphasizes for good quality of materials he use in his projects. Another important thing is a manner how he is thinking about details. He claims that architect must look for rational constructions and forms for edges and joints, for the points where surfaces intersect and different materials meet. These formal details determine the sensitive transitions within the larger proportions of the building. The details establish the formal rhythm and express what the basic idea of the design requires at the relevant point in object. When details are successfully, they are not mere decoration. They do not distract or entertain but they lead to an understanding of the whole of which they are inherent part.

Aleksandra Julia Franz, student id 816210

HISTORY AND THEORY OF THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE

14.01.2014

To summarize this chapter I would like to mention the excitement of visiting buildings according to Peter Zumthor. He things that good architecture is characterized by allowing emotions not inducing them. It is important that buildings allow people to have new experience and to live in them, not convince or persuade to defined feelings by architects. As an example from many works of Peter Zumthor I choose The Terme Vals built in 1996. It is a hotel and spa. The idea was to create a form of cave or quarry like structure. Working with the natural surroundings the bath rooms lay below a grass roof structure half buried into the hillside. The Therme Vals is built from layer upon layer of locally quarried Valser Quarzite slabs. This stone became the driving inspiration for the design, and is used with great dignity and respect. The combinations of light and shade, open and enclosed spaces and linear elements make for a highly sensuous and restorative experience. The underlying informal layout of the internal space is a carefully modelled path of circulation which leads bathers to certain predetermined points but lets them explore other areas for themselves. The perspective is always controlled. It either ensures or denies a view.

Bibliography Thinking Architecture Peter Zumtor Seven Personal Observations on Presence In Architecture- Peter Zumthor http://teoriaarchitektury.blogspot.it/2012/10/peter-zumthor-wywiad.html, interview with Peter Zumthor www.archdaily.com www.bryla.pl www.wikipedia.pl http://www.sztuka-architektury.pl

Aleksandra Julia Franz, student id 816210