| | Thinking Architecture, Peter Zumthor.
A recent discussion
at Archinect prompted me to pick up my copy of Zumthor's
out-of-print, 60-page collection of four lectures ("A
way of looking at things", "The hard core of beauty",
"From passion for things to the things themselves",
"The body of architecture") and an essay "Teaching
architecture, learning architecture". While the
words span eight years, the ideas are consistent, particularly
the importance of image. Zumthor culls imagery from his
past, especially his youth, recalling places like his Aunt's
kitchen, "a kitchen that has imprinted its memory indelibly
on my mind". It is apparent that he puts as much care
into his words as he does into his buildings, the Thermal
Baths in Vals his most well-known, for good reason.
In this project a timeless way of designing is achieved,
the interiors cave-like and primal yet contemporary. Even
more than Libeskind's recent book,
Thinking Architecture reminds one of the power
of architecture, reinstilling the drive to create architecture
that resonates with people for years and generations to
come.
. . or . . 
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