Chapter IV
“Interiors are like large instruments, collecting sound, amplifying it, transmitting it elsewhere. That has to do with the shape peculiar to each room and with the surface of materials they contain, and the way those materials have been applied” —Zumthor, P. Atmospheres: architectural environments, surrounding objects (20). Zumthor’s ability to create unique atmospheres and truly authentic sensory experience in his buildings is astonishing. The way he thinks of his designs is not only bounded by geometry, material aspects and three dimensions of physical reality. Zumthor thinks in multiple dimensions: he fully understands how building will age and how it will look after a certain period of time, the way the interior will be illuminated with natural and artificial light, the way it will sound, the way it will feel, the dialog the materials will speak and the temperature they will have. Bringing all the sensory qualities of a space together, Zumthor makes sure to find a balance and have them in peace. In other words, understanding the power that the light, sound and temperature have on human perception of a space he manipulates them to transport the visitor to a desirable atmosphere and convey a statement of Architectural Truth existing in his designs. St. Benedict’s Chapel in Sumvitg, Switzerland The peaceful and harmonious atmosphere in the St. Benedict’s Chapel is a product of smooth zenith light, coming from narrow strip of glass just beneath the roof and warm character of solid wood. Zumthor intentionally designed the floor to have a slight bulge in it to elicit a creak with each step, making the sound a tool to recreate the aura of warm and peaceful rural house: “That was on purpose. [The creak] would exist below your level of consciousness. Call it romantic, I guess” (Zumthor in his interview to Michael Kimmelman). The tactile qualities of wood also play an important role in this case, since the interior space is quite small and being so close to wood forces the user to touch and experience it. In a harmonious tandem the light, sound and texture of materials in a small wooden chapel appeal to all human senses and awake an aura of silence and comforting solitude. 17
Source: http://www.getkempt.com/ art-threat/the-architect.php