ORIS nexe AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVE CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURE, 2010

PETER ZUMTHOR

Peter Zumthor does not build thousands of cubic metres in exotic locations, he does not participate in the blind noise of the world. He does not need excessive forms or spectacular technologies. From a musical aspect, Zumthor’s works are pieces of chamber music. In his architecture of Silence, things are self-evident. For him, the right way of thinking architecture is only the poetic way. What slowly emerged from the Alchemist’s Chamber of his studio in the Swiss mountains were not merely or simply buildings, but magical places: the sensual stone spa of Vals; the innovative or rather perfect museum in Bregenz; the amazing archaeological hall of the museum in Cologne; the magic chapel of Bruder Klaus in a small German village.... The dense atmosphere of these places affects all our senses, even our hearing. He wants modern architecture to be as radical as modern music. In a constant interplay between emotions and reason, Peter Zumthor creates those beautiful moments that we will retain forever. We give him our thanks.