Comments on: Photographs of the work of Peter Zumthor by Hélène Binet http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/ architecture and design magazine Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nic Howett http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/comment-page-1/#comment-732872 Nic Howett Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:08:44 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/#comment-732872 What about the kolumba museum, the old persons home and the roman archaelogical remains building, they all have urban contexts? What about the kolumba museum, the old persons home and the roman archaelogical remains building, they all have urban contexts?

]]> By: Arch1k http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/comment-page-1/#comment-450469 Arch1k Fri, 21 May 2010 21:48:54 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/#comment-450469 Kong, I mostly agree with you. Zumthor is a fetishist, and if anybody wants to argue otherwise they would be foolish, as even he admits so in his writing. I also think that every architect is ought to have a choice of what they could build. However, just like actors that only pick action or chick flicks, architects that do bread-and-butter work, never get to exercise their abilities to construct monuments of architecture. I bet that just like a good actor who can easily play a shitty role, a world class architect like Zumthor or Ando, could do a mall in a heart beat. I do agree that it is a shame that great architects like Zumthor stick only to "pornographic" architecture as they deprive most simpletons of the joy of beautifully thought out malls and other such "mundane" structures. Also, a comment has been brought up about the "urban context". If one wants to avoid fruitless arguments than one must explicate what they really want to say clearly. What I'm referring to is the use of the term "urban context". This term is not a finite condition but a matter of degree and many variables; urban context could be described by varying density, demographic qualities, ethnicity, history and many other variables. Therefore throwing that kind of a term out there simply begs for the next person in line with a different idea about what the term means, to begin mumbling something irrelevant. Zumthor's works aren't USUALLY located in a densely populated areas and USUALLY don't intend on satisfying demands of great circulation or crucial pragmatic functions. They are usually "optional" lanterns of culture and they are great to have around. But that's all Usually. And those kind of mundane projects are not his strongest suit, and I would be surprised if he was able to do that kid of a job better than Rem who specializes in such a subject. The photos above are strong and seductive. However, the depict 0% of the phenomenological experience that Zumthor has intended. Zumthor is a phenomenologist and a successful one. However, that approach to architecture is, by definition, inexplicable in any other form but though inhabitance. Therefore the works above should really, only be looked at as works of photography rather than architecture. Kong, I mostly agree with you. Zumthor is a fetishist, and if anybody wants to argue otherwise they would be foolish, as even he admits so in his writing.
I also think that every architect is ought to have a choice of what they could build. However, just like actors that only pick action or chick flicks, architects that do bread-and-butter work, never get to exercise their abilities to construct monuments of architecture. I bet that just like a good actor who can easily play a shitty role, a world class architect like Zumthor or Ando, could do a mall in a heart beat.
I do agree that it is a shame that great architects like Zumthor stick only to “pornographic” architecture as they deprive most simpletons of the joy of beautifully thought out malls and other such “mundane” structures.
Also, a comment has been brought up about the “urban context”. If one wants to avoid fruitless arguments than one must explicate what they really want to say clearly. What I’m referring to is the use of the term “urban context”. This term is not a finite condition but a matter of degree and many variables; urban context could be described by varying density, demographic qualities, ethnicity, history and many other variables. Therefore throwing that kind of a term out there simply begs for the next person in line with a different idea about what the term means, to begin mumbling something irrelevant.
Zumthor’s works aren’t USUALLY located in a densely populated areas and USUALLY don’t intend on satisfying demands of great circulation or crucial pragmatic functions. They are usually “optional” lanterns of culture and they are great to have around. But that’s all Usually. And those kind of mundane projects are not his strongest suit, and I would be surprised if he was able to do that kid of a job better than Rem who specializes in such a subject.

The photos above are strong and seductive. However, the depict 0% of the phenomenological experience that Zumthor has intended. Zumthor is a phenomenologist and a successful one. However, that approach to architecture is, by definition, inexplicable in any other form but though inhabitance. Therefore the works above should really, only be looked at as works of photography rather than architecture.

]]> By: f http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/comment-page-1/#comment-342103 f Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:33 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/#comment-342103 Okai, let's try rebutting all you Urban Supremists with one single example - the Thermal Bath. If you do not reside in Vals, you do not truly understand the impact of the bathhouse on the people. It's not just about beautiful looking pieces of stones stacked in an orderly manner. It is a public piece of work, it brought tourism to the small town, it brought a new culture to the people. This IS an urban approach to the concept of bathhouses, while still managing to retain i's spiritual and cultural significance. You may argue that Vals is well, too rural to consider it as a city, hence this project is just a rural piece of less important architecture. So then, I don't get it... what exactly is your idea of urbanism? It seems rigidly defined by statistics and human-constructed boundaries, but really, urban projects can happen anywhere, whether Vals or Manhattan. It is urban, because of design approach and strategy, NOT because of context. And to those who are truly, sincerely concerned about sustainability... Sorry, I need to ask again.. What is your definition of sustainable architecture? Because I see this bathhouse being utilised by the residents for decades to come, but jeez, just because there are no solar panels it's not sustainable? For me, sustainability is about permanence. Yes, you may approach it technologically such that your building eats what it breeds, hence it is sustainable in that sense. But there is another aspect of sustainability that I believe is being clouded by all these hit-tech gadgets - which is very simply vernacular architecture. Using local materials and resources/skills, reinventing traditional wisdoms about efficient architecture... For me, Zumthor represents the highest form of sustainability. He is being true to each individual site, each individual cultural context. I really don't care if the air-conditioning you chose is the most energy efficient. What I care is whether your monstrosity of a building is able to dwell in a site for long, in a manner that is unobtrusive and harmonious. Okai, let’s try rebutting all you Urban Supremists with one single example – the Thermal Bath.

If you do not reside in Vals, you do not truly understand the impact of the bathhouse on the people. It’s not just about beautiful looking pieces of stones stacked in an orderly manner. It is a public piece of work, it brought tourism to the small town, it brought a new culture to the people. This IS an urban approach to the concept of bathhouses, while still managing to retain i’s spiritual and cultural significance. You may argue that Vals is well, too rural to consider it as a city, hence this project is just a rural piece of less important architecture. So then, I don’t get it… what exactly is your idea of urbanism? It seems rigidly defined by statistics and human-constructed boundaries, but really, urban projects can happen anywhere, whether Vals or Manhattan. It is urban, because of design approach and strategy, NOT because of context.

And to those who are truly, sincerely concerned about sustainability… Sorry, I need to ask again.. What is your definition of sustainable architecture? Because I see this bathhouse being utilised by the residents for decades to come, but jeez, just because there are no solar panels it’s not sustainable? For me, sustainability is about permanence. Yes, you may approach it technologically such that your building eats what it breeds, hence it is sustainable in that sense. But there is another aspect of sustainability that I believe is being clouded by all these hit-tech gadgets – which is very simply vernacular architecture. Using local materials and resources/skills, reinventing traditional wisdoms about efficient architecture… For me, Zumthor represents the highest form of sustainability. He is being true to each individual site, each individual cultural context. I really don’t care if the air-conditioning you chose is the most energy efficient. What I care is whether your monstrosity of a building is able to dwell in a site for long, in a manner that is unobtrusive and harmonious.

]]> By: smu http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/comment-page-1/#comment-320580 smu Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:38:34 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/#comment-320580 Amazing views, excellent work. I wonder which camera did she use?. Amazing views, excellent work. I wonder which camera did she use?.

]]> By: leandro locsin http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/comment-page-1/#comment-318952 leandro locsin Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:56:35 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/27/photographs-of-the-work-of-peter-zumthor-by-helene-binet/#comment-318952 polemics can be done professionally, its a situation that any end of a string couldn't determine whether he'll turn out to be the 'fool' or otherwise. thats why a peaceful, open-minded discussion should be done. i appreciate everyone's passion for the discipline, though harsh... its good that somebody cares or bothers about architecture and its impact. i think zumthor deserved the pritzker, he is a clear headed architect who does his architecture with a clear soul, single powerful strokes that opposes the current stylistic approach of architecture with all the bling blings! fashions and graphic mojos. his architecture is very tactile and of course very personal. though his architecture is not something new and has been done by many architects before him, his works are eternal, straight forward, and with no fancy, sugar coated words. old methods but very effective. human-oriented but not complexity addressing. absolutely not contemporary but emotionally moving. polemics can be done professionally, its a situation that any end of a string couldn’t determine whether he’ll turn out to be the ‘fool’ or otherwise. thats why a peaceful, open-minded discussion should be done.

i appreciate everyone’s passion for the discipline, though harsh… its good that somebody cares or bothers about architecture and its impact.

i think zumthor deserved the pritzker, he is a clear headed architect who does his architecture with a clear soul, single powerful strokes that opposes the current stylistic approach of architecture with all the bling blings! fashions and graphic mojos. his architecture is very tactile and of course very personal. though his architecture is not something new and has been done by many architects before him, his works are eternal, straight forward, and with no fancy, sugar coated words.

old methods but very effective. human-oriented but not complexity addressing. absolutely not contemporary but emotionally moving.

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