Thinking Architecture,   ISBN:9783764374976

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In many ways, the reading of this book reminded me of the writings of Louis Kahn: both explicit and metaphorical reflections on the inner complexities of the apparent simplicities of daily life. The selections of almost inscrutable photographs, extreme close-ups of sections of Zumthor's house, act as as another way to explore the intensity of the artist's and his art's soul. All along the book, and in a very poetical manner, phrases seem to be left hanging unfinished, as for one's own mind and sensibility to put together the pieces of and intriguing and inspiring puzzle that remains open and to be developed by the reader. While the voice of a master is always heard, the message is delivered with the subtlety of his work, as for the reader not to feel forced into a way of thinking, acting or perceiving, but invited to stay with eyes, mind and all senses open to enjoy the pleasures of life and the possibility to contribute to them by one's own minor but never meaningless actions.

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It reflects the knowledge of a big architect that Zumthor is, one thousand words that make you learn a diferent way to look at things and to create a rational way of thinking about architecture.

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Zumthor is incredibly talented... there is quite some difficulty in not only creating simple, beautiful, natural and intentional architecture, but also something even more difficult in relating it verbally. Thinking Architecture does an amazing job at that. This is a book you could return to every few months, and it will re-awaken your senses to the architectural world around you, as well as your memories and experiences with those environments. Zumthor truly does give an excellent source of thoughts and events in this book. Extremely recommended, "Atmospheres" as well!

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As an architecture student, I found this book very very interesting, because Peter Zumthor has a different way of "thinking architecture". His own way. A way in which I had never thought of it, so it actualy opened my mind for some aspects that are not so frequent in the learning of architecture.

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Reading this book was like reading a long-lost secret manual of
"How to become a 21 century Samurai..." I guess that sense of delusion rises because the content and the tone of book has this (quasi) idea of medieval perfection achieved through a repetition of hands-on practice. "I do not work towards architecture from a theoretically defined point of departure, for I am committed to making architecture,," writes Zumthor.

Moreover, a reader, at the back of her/his head, has those powerful images of Bath House in Vaals (tour de force of phenomenological experience) that intensifies the delusion. One would think, 'Zumthor must be a man from Mars to build architecture like that' and 'his writings must be a strong sleeping pill.' Usual Suspect !

He writes extremely clear with extremely simple terms. This slim book tells us how an architect of such originality thinks and experiences daily life. It's a great pleasure to find out what kind of music (Mozart's piano concertos) zumthor listens; what kind of artists (Beuys and Merz) he likes; what kind of film he watches (Ettore Scola's film Le Bal); what kind of books (Calvino) he reads; and what kind of sayings ("the hard core beauty") in the radio show captivates him. A former cabinet maker, his book is carefully jointed, just like his buildings. Anyone who found this book fun/inspiring to read should also try Alvaro Siza's "Writings on Architecture"