Peter Zumthor is a Swiss Architect and have been recognized
for many of his works.
During the
1980’s Peter Zumthor had the project to renovate a bankrupt hotel in a thermal
bath in Vals, Switzerland which was opened in 1996. The Thermal bath is located into a hill, more than half of the building is hidden into the hill and the other part reflects a huge rock
embedded in the hillside. So with this kind of structure the idea of Peter
Zumthor was to create a cave or quarry with indoor and outdoor baths.
Peter Zumthor
also wanted to build this thermal baths with local materials that are concrete
and Valser quartzite.
The good selection and use of the materials, the creation of the lights and shadows and the system of
circulation creates a dynamic spatial concept while at the same time relaxing. Indeed,
the path of circulation has been carefully modelled for the bather experience who can explore and enjoy different baths before choosing his predetermined
space.
When people
enter into the thermal centre, they are going through an underground tunnel and
then arrive in the change room, they undressed themselves and go out
from the other side of the room ready for bathing. On the main floor are
different temperatures baths, showers, resting and meeting area as well as a massage rooms.
The notions
that inspired the architect were the quality of the material, the world of the
stone, the darkness and the light with its reflections onto the water or in the
steam saturated air, the feeling of the touch between the warm stone and the
body but also the ritual of bathing. Peter Zumthor used the element of water
and air in a warm state because they are the most suitable elements that permit to be
comfortably in the room and relax all the muscles and the mind, to start the meditation.
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