What “really constitutes an architectural atmosphere”? Peter Zumthor says, is “this singular density and mood, this feeling of presence, well-being, harmony, beauty ... under whose spell I experience what I otherwise would not experience in precisely this way.”
Peter Zumthor’s passion is the creation of buildings that produce this profound effect, but how can an architect actually set out to achieve it?
A Process of Self-Observation
In nine short, illustrated chapters, Zumthor describes what occupies his mind as he sets about creating the atmosphere of his houses.
To build these environments, his inspirations extend far beyond architecture alone—images of spaces and buildings that move him are treated with the exact same importance as a powerful piece of music or an inspiring book.
Key Elements of Architectural Poetics
This guide enables the reader to recapitulate what really matters in the process of house design, breaking down essential sensory touchpoints such as:
The Composition and “Presence” of Materials: How physical mediums feel, look, and coexist.
The Handling of Proportions: Scaling spaces to evoke specific emotional responses.
The Effect of Light: How natural and artificial illumination shapes the structural mood.
