Zumthor is Not God

8/13/2019 Zumthor is Not God

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Dear Architecture Journalists:

Stop Worshipping PeterZumthor! M k i g45 f84

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Conrad NewelConrad Newel Dear Architecture Journalists: StopWorshipping Peter Zumthor!

Conrad Newel is an opinio ns c ontr ibutor to Arch it izer. The views expressed

here are his a lone . Interested in h aving you r op inions heard? Contact us a t

[email protected]

Dear Architectural Critics and Journalists,

I have had enough of your fanaticism with Peter Zumthor. He is a finearchitect and an even better self- promoter. And while I dont dislikethe guy, I do seriously dislike when journalists and especiallycritics keel over and act like star-struck teenage girls at a JustinBieber concert when confronted with the man or his work.

Specifically, I am ticked off with your constantly using the wordpilgrimage in describing your visits to Zumthors sites.

When I think of the word pilgrimage, I think of a deeply spiritual andreligious journey the type that devout Muslims make to Mecca, for
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instance, or the trips that Christians take to Biblically-significant sitessuch as Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, or Calvary, where he wascrucified.

Mecca, the destination of an actual religious pilgrimage. Photo: RexFeatures
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Zumthor's Vacation Homes, site of architectural "pilgrimage"

The Catholic encyclopedia defines pilgrimage as a journey made toa place to venerate it, ask for supernatural aid, or discharge somereligious obligation. So I thought it rather strange that I kept finding theword being used in relation to ... an architect.
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Unparalleled skills of craftsmanship and uncompromising integrity?This type of language should forever be entombed in fine furniture

catalogs, or in the Our Approach sections of contractor websites.Take out the word craftsmanship, and you could f ind this on the
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back label of a wine bottle. This is sales, not journalistic language! Ifthis were an isolated combination of adjectives used by one or two ofyou, it would be just cute; however this is an industry-wide pathology.

To wit:

Peter Zumthor is a master architect admired by his colleagues aroundthe world for work that is focused, unc om pr om i s i n g andexceptionally determined

The Pri tzker Prize Ju ry Repo rt 2009

He has a mythic reputation as a reclusive mountain-dwelling hermit, amonk of materials, with standards so exacting that few clients havethe patience, or deep enough pockets, to indulge hisunc om p r o m i s i ng approach.

The Guardian, Febru ary 5, 2013

Ask any architect about Peter Zumthor and you will most likely see

them get weak in the knees, or at the very least laden with envy. Heembodies an almost wizardly wisdom and un c o m pr o m i s i ng integrity.

ArcSpace .com, Ju ly 1, 2013

Known for running a small yet powerful and unc om pr om i s i n g practice, Peter Zumthor founded his award-winning firm in 1979 inSwitzerland.

Archi tec ture .com Septem ber 27, 2012

His exquisite but uncompromising buildings do seem to be wroughtfrom the living rock but perceptions of human need are also importantin their shaping.

Royal Academ y of Arts
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Zumthor's "uncompromising" (whatever that means) Chapel of St.Benedict


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Zumthor's Vals Thermal Spa

The repetition seems almost orchestrated or choreographed. Did you just copy and paste these terms from Zumthors press release withoutfiltering it through your noodles? You could have at least used athesaurus. Some other great words are: steadfast, unbending,determined, relentless, pigheaded, firm, resolute...OK, maybe notpigheaded, but you get what I am saying.

Furthermore, uncompromising isnt exactly a virtue I would exaltwhen talking about an architect. The process of making architecture is

more like a cha-cha you give a little and you take a little, you listento the unspoken words of your partners, you respond with a playfuland delicate flexibility, and you apply a healthy dose of creativity untilthe music stops. (Your partner in this metaphor being your site, thesurrounding nature, your client, the projects economy and all theother variables that you come across as an architect in the creativeprocess.) Who wants to work with an architect or anybody for that

matter who is uncompromising?

Back to the subject of pilgrimage, the quote below reminds me of thescene from the Last Supper:

As the evening wore on and Zumthor kept the wine and beer coming,the architect from London began pouring out his heart much to ourembarrassment - about Camden Council and its failure to recognize

and support great architecture. We were all glad when he staggeredoff to bed and at that point two of us (myself and the late GilesWorsley ) decided wed skip Botta and go on a Zumthor pi lgr image starting with his office, and meet the group in Basel the next day.

Me, Peter Zumtho r, and m y b roken s andal , bdonl ine , Octo ber 1,2012
http://www.architizer.com/projects/vals-thermal-spa/http://www.architizer.com/projects/vals-thermal-spa/http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jan/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jan/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jan/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1http://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.bdonline.co.uk/me-peter-zumthor-and-my-broken-sandal/5043521.bloghttp://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jan/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jan/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1http://www.architizer.com/projects/vals-thermal-spa/


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Perhaps a more fitting comparison for this is a scene out of TrueBlood where Vampire Eric cons Sookie into drinking his blood, whichhas powers to make humans high and infatuated with the vampire of

whose blood he/she has been intoxicated with.

Then theres this:

Everything Zumthor touches becomes a place of pi lgr image , and hiselemental work has a broad church. His Therme Vals baths inSwitzerland is Mecca for architects, but full of ordinary folk too. Hischapels, St Benedict and Bruder Klaus, satisfy visitors seeking either

the spiritual or material sublime.

Zum thor 's pavi l ion w i l l be a p lace of p i lgr im age , Archi tec tsJournal , 15 Octo ber, 2010
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/zumthors-pavilion-will-be-a-place-of-pilgrimage/8606955.articlehttp://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/comment/why-zumthor-is-perfect-for-the-serpentine/8606975.articlehttp://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/comment/why-zumthor-is-perfect-for-the-serpentine/8606975.articlehttp://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/comment/why-zumthor-is-perfect-for-the-serpentine/8606975.articlehttp://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/zumthors-pavilion-will-be-a-place-of-pilgrimage/8606955.article


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If wherever Zumthor touches becomes a place of pilgrimage, then nomatter what he creates, it will become an object of worship. An objectof worship cannot be taken apart, analyzed, scrutinized, or bediscussed in an objective manner.

Whether we worship Allah, Jesus, Yahweh, or Zumthor, as journalistsand writers we need to maintain a healthy separation between our


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personal religious beliefs and our journalistic work. Of course,suppressing our beliefs and who we are is not desirable either. Thebest we can strive for is a reasonable balance between the two.

Sincerely,

Conrad NewelNOTES ON BECOMING A FAMOUS ARCHITECTLiberating minds since August 2007

In a world filled with architects of immense egos, frightening moral

characters, slicing ambition, stealth branding, cunning strategies,audacious attitudes and incredible talents Conrad Newel will be aforce to be reckoned with. He blogs over at Notes on Becoming aFamous Architect.

A co uple weeks ago I was inv i ted to wr i te an op in ion s a r t ic le on Arch i t izer.

I wro te a piece with the wo rking t i t le " An open c a ll fo r the De-Jesus- i f icat ion of Peter Zumth or and a Plea for Cri t ical Journ alism and Ob ject ivi tywhen Repor t ing on His Work " . It was edited to f i t Archit izer 's form at andthe t i tle changed to "Zum thor i s n o t God" You can read i t the o r ig inalvers ion here .

The piece was in the form of a let ter to architectur al cr i t ics and journ alistsand d iscu ssed the i r lack o f c r i t ical engagement when repor t ing on Pe terZu m th o r an d h i s wo rk .

In te res t ing ly enoug h tho ugh , the p iece was no t c r i t ica l o f Zum thor o r h iswo rk. I do n ' t th in k I have ever been cr i t ical of h is wo rk before. I enjoy i ttho rou gh ly and I have even gon e as far as cal l ing m yself a fan. However, Ihave been c r i t ica l o f Zumthor the man h imsel f and h is decep t ive sel f - p rom ot iona l p rac t ice as ev idenced here an d here .
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Christ ine Murray, a wri ter for Arc hitects Jou rnal , identif ies Zum tho r 'sfol low ers not as fol low ers, no t even as fans or fanatics, bu t as a bro adchurch . In d o ing so , she re ferences the c lass ic def in i tion o f church , no t asa buildin g, but as the wh ole bod y of Christ ian bel ievers.

So before I even pu t pen to pap er to wri te , I ant icipated som e blow back.Though Zumtho r ism is n o t an o ff ic ia lly recognized re l ig ion , I unders tand i tas such . So when you go o u t in pu b l ic and wr i te a p iece that i s in anywaynear c r i tica l o f a re lig ious ico n ( tha t which they ho ld mo st dear ) you expec tthat .

And l ike c lock w ork the b low back came in . You can see it a t the bo t tom ofthe ar t ic le here . It is h i lar ious ! perhaps a l i t t le sad. As also expected, mo stof them m is took m y cr i t ic i sm of the journ a l is t as an a ttack on Zumtho r, h iswork o r h is s ta tu re. For som e the no t ion tha t one can bo th en joy som eth ingand b e cr i t ical of i t a t the same t ime is a l i t t le d iff icu l t to grasp .

I real ly love the com ments sect ion s, even wh en they get real ly nasty. I s i tdow n wi th m y lap top and have a good laugh and in te rac t wi th the love lyand even wi th the un love ly ones .

However, I was real ly f loored wh en I saw this on e below, it was som ethingthat I was no t a t a l l expectin g. It near ly bro ug ht m e to tears. real ly! Itval idates what I do. If there is on ly on e person ou t there that can see theva lue o f what I a im to do wi th th is b log , then i t i s wor th every second o ft ime that I pou r in to i t . So here is to ano ther 100 no tes:

Well, you sir, are just begging for trouble!This is actually a profoundly relevant topic. As for trying to assertivelydiscuss it on the internet... well... good luck with that!

There is, of course, a problem with the use of the word "architect". PeterZumthor is an architect. I am an architect. Therefore I could concludethat "I am like Peter Zumthor".
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I would be wrong. Just because we use the same words doesn't mean weare talking about the same things. Peter Zumthor openly claims that heis not a service provider. He doesn't work to comply with the promoter's

needs or wishes and he is proud of his uncompromising nature. No, Peter Zumthor is not one of us.

Of course, I'm not going to say that being uncompromising is a virtue oran evil. I will say that it is questionable. I would recommend thedocumentary "Peter Zumthor - Der Eigensinn des Schonnen" (althoughit is very difficult to find it nowadays) to witness some of the

implications, both good and bad, of that approach to the field ofarchitecture, and how it impacts other people.

The problem with the deification of an architect - or anyone for thatmatter - is that it narrows down and eventually shuts the possibility ofdebate. The pernicious aspect of having this cult status being promoted

by architectural institutions and media - and when I say media I'mtalking about critics that often have ties to official associations and

academies - is that it becomes an obstacle to an open and healthy debateabout architecture.

The corresponding symptom to that ill environment can be witnessed onthese comments already. A possible debate gets shattered, not becausethe arguments raised are questioned, but because they were substituted

by a lawyer type approach where (1) the author's credibility is

questioned and, once that is done, (2) any argument presented is deemedirrelevant. A known way of sidestepping any discussion.

Keep in mind that Peter Zumthor's quality as an architect is not beingquestioned here - although it could, why not? But this is true all aroundthe world. Every nation has its set of highly reverenced architects. If, forwatever reason, one of their works becomes controversial, architecturalinstitutions and critics will often close ranks around the defense of "the


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architect", whose personal qualities or overall body of work are not being questioned, to minimize the debate around "the building".

That is why you will have great difficulty finding architects openlyquestioning buildings such as Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences,Peter Eisenman's City of Culture of Galicia, Zaha Hadid's ZaragozaBridge Pavilion, and so on, and so on. And if you are an architect andyou question these buildings out in the open, trust me, doors will shut onyou and you will be on your way to become an outcast.

The real issue here, therefore, is that the glorification of architects is

detrimental to a democratic environment where ideas, includingarchitecture, can be questioned through rational considerations fromwhich we can all learn and evolve.

And if we deny that, if we deny the possibility of that to happen becausewhoever is pointing the finger doesn't hold the seal of some ubber-institution, then we all run the risk of becoming another silent witness

standing among the crowd, paying tribute to naked kings.Daniel Carrapa

An Open Call for the De-Jesus-ification of Peter Zumthor

pilgrimage [pil-gr uh -mij] Show IPA noun, verb, pilgrimaged,

pilgrimaging.

noun

a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacredplace as an act of religious devotion: a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
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fanatic [f uh -nat-ik] Show IPA

noun

a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm orzeal, as in religion or politics.

adjective

fanatical.

Origin:

1515 25; < Latin fnticus pertaining to a temple,inspired by orgiastic rites, frantic, equivalent to fn ( um )temple + - ticus, equivalent to - t ( us ) -ate 1 + -icus -

ic -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Architectural Critics and Journalists,

I have had enough of your fanaticism with Peter Zumthor. He is a fine architect and aneven better self- promoter. I dont dislike the guy, but I do seriously dislike whenjournalists and especially critics keel over and act like star-struck teenage girls at aJustin Bieber concert when confronted with the man or his work.

Specifically, I am ticked off with your constantly using the word pilgrimage in describingyour visits to Zumthors sites.

When I think of the word pilgrimage, I think of a deeply spiritual and religious journey thetype that devout Muslims make to Mecca, for instance, or the trips that Christians take toBiblically-significant sites such as Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, or Calvary, where hewas crucified.

The Catholic encyclopedia defines pilgrimage as a journey made to a place to venerate

it, ask for supernatural aid, or discharge some religious obligation. So I thought it ratherstrange that I kept finding the word being used in relation to Peter Zumthor.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religionhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/politicshttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fanaticalhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-atehttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ichttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ichttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ichttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ichttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12085a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12085a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12085a.htmhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ichttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ichttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-atehttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fanaticalhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/politicshttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion


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I have compiled just a sampling of recent quotes from notable critics writing about visitingZumthor or seeing his work in the flesh. Their descriptions typically begin with the wordpilgrimage, the size and location of the sacred radius, and finally the term seminal todescribe the works found within its boundaries. This sets the tone for the rest of thearticle, which can be summed up in three words: Praise, Praise and Praise.

Here, from Dwell Magazine:

I recently made a Peter Zumthor pilgrimage to Switzerland, where many of his seminalworks sit within a 40 mile radius [of] one another in the northeastern part of the country.

An architectural journey surely not for the faint of heart, it took a day's harrowing drivethrough the northern Alps with steep cliffs and crazy European drivers, but in the end, itwas well worth it. A Pilgrimage to Zumthor's Chapel | Dwell, October 5, 2010

This one from ArchDaily was the straw that broke the camels back for me:

Our friend and architectural photographer Felipe Camus recently embarked on anarchitectural pilgrimage to the valley of the Rhein. Located in the Graubnden region inSwitzerland, the valley boasts many of the seminal works of Pritzker Prize Laureate PeterZumthor, all within a 60-kilometer radius. Born in Graubnden himself, Zumthor designedthe works in relation to their location and time by paying special attention to details andmaterials. As a result, the works all present Zumthors unparalleled skills ofcraftsmanship and his uncompromising integrity. A Photographers Journey Through Zumthor Valley | ArchDaily, August 28, 2013

Unparalleled skills of craftsmanship and uncompromising integrity? This type oflanguage should forever be entombed in fine furniture catalogs, or in the Our Approachsections of contractor websites. Take out the word craftsmanship, and you could findthis on the back label of a wine bottle. This is sales, not journalistic language! If this werean isolated combination of adjectives used by one or two of you, it would be just cute;

however this is an industry-wide pathology. To wit:

Peter Zumthor is a master architect admired by his colleagues around the world for workthat is focused, uncompromising and exceptionally determined

The Pritzker Prize Jury Report 2009

He has a mythic reputation as a reclusive mountain-dwelling hermit, a monk of materials,with standards so exacting that few clients have the patience, or deep enough pockets, toindulge his uncompromising approach.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/seminal?s=thttp://www.dwell.com/travel-reports/article/pilgrimage-zumthors-chapelhttp://www.dwell.com/travel-reports/article/pilgrimage-zumthors-chapelhttp://www.archdaily.com/419367/a-photographer-s-journey-through-peter-zumthor-valley/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=widget&utm_name=most-visitedhttp://www.archdaily.com/419367/a-photographer-s-journey-through-peter-zumthor-valley/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=widget&utm_name=most-visitedhttp://www.pritzkerprize.com/2009/juryhttp://www.pritzkerprize.com/2009/juryhttp://www.pritzkerprize.com/2009/juryhttp://www.archdaily.com/419367/a-photographer-s-journey-through-peter-zumthor-valley/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=widget&utm_name=most-visitedhttp://www.dwell.com/travel-reports/article/pilgrimage-zumthors-chapelhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/seminal?s=t


19/20


20/20

Me, Peter Zumthor, and my broken sandal |bdonline, October 1, 2012

Perhaps a more fitting comparison for this is a scene out of True Blood where Vampire Ericcons Sookie into drinking his blood, which has powers to make humans high and infatuatedwith the vampire of whose blood he/she has been intoxicated with.Then theres this:

Everything Zumthor touches becomes a place of pilgrimage, and his elemental work has abroad church. His Therme Vals baths in Switzerland is Mecca for architects, but full ofordinary folk too. His chapels, St Benedict and Bruder Klaus, satisfy visitors seekingeither the spiritual or material sublime.

Zumthor's pavilion will be a place of pilgrimage | Architects Journal, 15 October, 2010

If wherever Zumthor touches becomes a place of pilgrimage, then no matter what hecreates, it will become an object of worship. An object of worship cannot be taken apart,analyzed, scrutinized, or be discussed in an objective manner.

Whether we worship Allah, Jesus, Yahweh, or Zumthor, as journalists and writers we needto maintain a healthy separation between our personal religious beliefs and ourjournalistic work. Of course, suppressing our beliefs and who we are is not desirableeither. The best we can strive for is a reasonable balance between the two.

I am not asking you to denounce him, or trash his work. No!

I am not asking to be overly analytic like you are writing a scientific report either.I am not asking you to be dull and boring. Absolutely not!By all means, if you enjoy his work, write that, be passionate! I love that.Show your enthusiasm, it is contagious!But please, pretty please with sugar on top, be objective and critical as well!We need it, we deserve it. The last thing we need are journalists who are sheep.Zumthor would be better off because of it and so would architecture too.

Sincerely,

Conrad Newel,

NOTES ON BECOMING A FAMOUS ARCHITECT Liberating minds since August 2007

Related Posts:90. The deceptive paradox that is the Zumthor brand 60. Play Peter, the Pritzker Peddling Hermit Genius

originally published on Architizer: http://www.architizer.com/blog/peter-zumthor-is-not-god/
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Zumthor is Not God

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