ZUMTHOR, PETER / HAUSER, SIGRID / BINET, HELENE
Therme Vals, the spa complex built in the Swiss Alps by celebrated architect Peter Zumthor, became an icon of contemporary architecture soon after its opening in 1996. Inspired by the spas majestic surroundings, Zumthor built the structure on the sharp grade of an Alpine mountain slope with grass-topped roofs to mimic Swiss meadows, captured here in a series of sumptuous images. Peter Zumthor Therme Vals, the only book-length study of this singular building, features the architects own original sketches and plans for its design as well as Hélène Binets striking photographs of the structure. Architectural scholar Sigrid Hauser contributes an essay on such topics as Artemis/Diana, Baptism, Mikvah, and Springdrawing out the connections between the elemental nature of the spa and mythology, bathing, and purity.
Annotations by Peter Zumthor on his design concept and the building process elucidate the structures symbiotic relationship to its natural surroundings, revealing, for example, why he insisted on using locally quarried stone. Therme Valss scenic design elements, and Zumthors contributions to this book, reflect the architects commitment to the essential and his disdain for needless architectural flourishes. This lavishly illustrated volume about the spa that catapulted a remote Swiss village onto the international architecture scene will entrance all enthusiasts of contemporary design.
