Trying to question the essence of the architecture,as a way of living,as a container of sense and

sensibility, Zumthors works and philosophy,in a sense,is the manifesto against the framework
created by modernism. He trying to find a balance between the complexity of society,which is
overwhelmed by countless symbol,authentic or fake,and the sort of pure connection he always
believe in. In other words,he treating architecture more like an art pieces or a furniture. In rational
terms,he still believe in architecture should based on responding different practical requirement.
However,what he trying to do is not response to those requirement in a mechanical manners,but
trying to make those practical issue intertwining with certain image as a whole,in his word: the
atmosphere. For Zumthor,his interpretation to atmosphere is not purely aesthetic,on the contrary,
its is more like the integrity of various aspect,controllable or uncontrollable. In this book,he tried to
categorized the word atmosphere in to few practical aspect,which is:
reality,temperature,sound,object,composure and seduction,tension (between inside and outside)
intimacy,light,coherence
Each of them indicate specific image which connected to certain scenario in his memory. These
scenario,to some extent,can be seen as the extension of his body,and thus,his
architecture,perhaps,can be read as such extension as well. As Zumthor wrote in his another
book,thinking architecture,
whenever he started a new project,he started to recall some image and emotion,which connected
to his original expectation related to certain type of space. Consequently,
he trying to figure out what those image essentially stand for,which allow him to create as much
atmosphere and visual form as possible. Gradually,his design object started to reveal some
character related some image and reference,thus,he trying to find specific way to integrate all
these character,in terms of structure,form,programetc,to achieve a entity with certain atmosphere
and richness.
In this sense,we may have a clearer view of his philosophy,which is trying to maintain some
inherent value within architecture discourse,trying to find a new starting point to reevaluate
architecture in contemporary society. For Zumthor,as he wrote in thinking architecture ,he do not
want to follow HdM who treat architecture as an intellectual approach.On the contrary,though he
agree with the fact that it is impossible to create an purely isolated masterpiece ,he still believe that
to some extent,can have some identical purity,no only in terms of form,but also in terms of its
value.
In my understanding,Zumthors atmospheric approach is plausibly trying to recall some primitive
sensation in order to relink peoples presence and their behavior with the space at the same time
and context. At the same time,such approach,also refers to some inherent character result in a
high quality architectural object,or the form of beauty. Perhaps,in a sense,form is still main concern
for Zumthor,especially in his recent project( LACMA..etc.) However,I think Zumthors understanding
to beauty is not simply refers to visual concern or even sculptural strategy ;on the contrary,it might
be something more like a criteria or catalyst to ensure architecture free from its functionality and
become something identical,with his own meaning and perfectly fit the context with specific
atmosphere and sensation.

The idea of things coming into their own,of finding themselves,because they have become the
things that actually set out to be. And it is at its most beautiful when things have come into their
own,when they are coherent. That is when everything refers to everything else and it is impossible
remove a single things without destroying the whole.Place,use and form.The form reflects the
place.The place is just so and the use reflects this and that.
Although I personally supposed that facing the complexity of society,the role of architect should be
in a more opened attitude which might be better than pure artistic approach,I still think what

Zumthor written in his text should not simply be seen as some hermitic taste,cause it indeed
indicate some intrinsic value which should always be the quintessential part in the discourse.
At the same time,such primitive concern,in my viewpoint,still point out a lot of potentiality within
some futuristic context,which we should always look backward to