Therme Vals by Peter Zumthor: 2016

Pictures and Additional Information

Interior View of a bath within Therme Vals

http://www.mimoa.eu/images/1775_l.jpg

Zumthor utilizes lights and darks as well as material choices to create a kind of otherworldly effect within the bathhouse. This can contribute to his overarching theme of stone and water because we very clearly have the quartz material used in conjunction with the water.

Therme Vals as seen from Google Earth

The grassy grid in the center of the rendering is the Therme Vals. It is difficult to notice from satellite imagery because it blends so well into the landscape. Notably, it is located right next to the Hotel Therme and the nearby areas appear to be fairly back-country. The nearest town, Vals, is relatively close by.

Video/Interview with Peter Zumthor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpkpiK4o-cw

The building itself has no doors and can only be accessed from within the Hotel Therme from an underground passage way. In this sense, it contributes to the effect of being within the mountain, much like the way a hot spring comes from nature. Zumthor is creating the sense that the bathhouse itself comes from nature with these building choices.

Flickr Photo Reel

https://goo.gl/6HecGZ

These photos really capture Zumthor's use of lighting to contrast the intimacy and warmth of darkness with the boldness and freedom of light. Additionally, they also show the sheer scale of the bathhouse - it dwarfs people in comparison, contributing to a sense of awe. Perhaps the scale also adds a kind of natural sense, like only something of a non-human origin could have created something so in tune with nature.

Visitor's Blog to Therme Vals: Do's and Don'ts

http://www.peterthals.com/2009/12/therme-vals.html

The Peterthals comments on how the bathhouse was definitely not what she expected, with warm temperatures and high popularity among guests. She notes that the open feel and naturalness prompted some discomfort because many people were too in line with their natural selves publicly for her taste. Also, she had her towels stolen because everyone has the same towel. I personally think that her mediocre experience stems from the fact that the place was designed to feel uninhibited and true to nature, so perhaps she should just relax like Zumthor intended. Overall I learned from her that the spa itself can feel a bit crowded at times and that could contribute to a less relaxing experience.

The Architectural Review's view on the Therme Vals

Three notable details from the article:

1) Gneiss is used in combination with concrete and other materials to simulate a cavern.

2) Thermal bathing was a means to attracting a wider clientele to Vals.

3) Diverges into multiple paths that capture not only light effects, but acoustic effects too.

Biography on Peter Zumthor

http://www.pritzkerprize.com/2009/bio

1) Worked for the Department of Preservation of Monuments and analyzed historical villages. This contributes to his sense of history and ancient human practices such as bathing.

2) The building is used to accentuate the flat lines of the water, while also highlighting the water's fluidity. This is done with the overarching "stone and water" theme he mentioned in his book.

3) Zumthor is an architect who designs buildings with a specific purpose tailored for a specific group of people. His buildings cannot be used for anything other than their intended purpose, which in this case is a bathhouse.

Sources:

"Biography." : Peter Zumthor. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Ryan, Raymond. "Thermal Baths in Vals, Switzerland by Peter Zumthor."Thermal Baths in Vals,Switzerland

by Peter Zumthor. Architectural Review, 1 Aug. 2015. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Tantra, Patrick. "Peter Zumthor - Therme Vals, Vals, Graubünden, Switzerland 1." Flickr. Yahoo!, 06 Apr.

2011. Web. 09 Feb. 2016. <https://goo.gl/6HecGZ >.

The Peterthals. "Therme Vals." Web log post. Peterthals in Austin. N.p., 7 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 Feb. 2016.

<http://www.peterthals.com/2009/12/therme-vals.html>.

"The Therme Vals / Peter Zumthor." YouTube. YouTube, 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Therme Vals in Literature

Peter Zumthor has also written a book regarding it's construction and origins. In the book, "The Therme Vals", Zumthor discusses the ancient origins of the bathhouse and bathing itself as it is presented in Grecian mythology. He also goes on to discuss his thought process, which was attributed to classical modernist ideals. An overarching theme in the bathhouse's creation is "stone and water" - so as to simulate the feeling of dipping in a naturally occurring spring. Lastly he goes on to describe the feelings he instilled in each individual feature of the bathhouse.

Euripides Bziotas in his conceptual approach of the "Therme Baths of Vals, Switzerland" also analyzes Zumthor's creation.

He notes that:

1) Therme Vals has no doors.
2) It is integrated within the hill so as not to obstruct view of the hotel it is loosely connected to.
3) The baths are kept at 32 degrees Celsius except for the Fire Bath which is 42 degrees.

Sources:

Bziotas, Euripides. Therme Baths in Vals, Switzerland. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Hauser, Sigrid, Peter Zumthor, and Hélène Binet. Peter Zumthor--Therme Vals. Zürich: Scheidegger
& Spiess, 2007. Print.

Sections and Plans

What we will notice when looking at the section view of the Therme Vals is that Peter Zumthor has effectively put the bath house inside of the hill. Again, this is to contribute to the feeling of being one with the stone, and ultimately one with nature.

In the plan view we can see highlighted in blue where the water is and how it integrates with the outdoors. Zumthor utilizes the architecture in such a way to where the interior and exterior of the building feel connected. Also, notably the plan shows his use of balance and rhythm as we can see that in a very measured fashion another facility is placed.

To contribute to the sense of meandering and being lost in the woods Zumthor has placed the entrances to each facility in such a less consistent fashion - each pathway has a different direction in which it can be entered.

Sources:

"The Therme Vals / Peter Zumthor." ArchDaily. N.p., 10 Feb. 2009. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.

Therme Vals

Created in 1996 in Graubünden, Switzerland, the Therme Vals is a bath house/spa/hotel for people desiring to get away from the stresses of every day life in a place that very much resembles the nature surrounding it. Peter Zumthor designed the place with the hope that it could have the feel of "being inside the mountain"; he very much wanted its inhabitants to feel as though they were one with the stone. The stone, which is actually a series of Vals Quartzite (gneiss) slabs, feels gentle and warm to the skin, creating a sense of relaxation. Additionally, Zumthor utilizes negative space and rhythm to simulate the feeling of meandering through the woods - as if around every corner a new mystery is to be unlocked - this, too, contributes to the natural ambiance.

Additionally, the roof of the building is integrated with the side of the hill, and is made of grass. It very much is designed with the intention of being one with its surroundings; perhaps an effort by Zumthor to get its users to feel a therapeutic benefit of taking in nature.

Therme Vals from Above

The use of stone Vals Quartzite slabs is apparent throughout the entire building's design.

Notably the roof is made out of grass and the building (unseen) continues on inside of the hill. It
is designed to feel like the interior and exterior are connected.

Therme Vals from the Side

A perspective shot of the Therme Vals demonstrating it's rhythmic use of windows and entrances,
but also displaying use of line. One thing to note is that the building material is a series of beautiful
Vals Quartize (gneiss) slabs.

A Sketch of Therme Vals

This perspective is kind of odd because it captures two perspectives of the Therme Vals, however we still cannot see inside it. Also the sketch demonstrates how the bathhouse is built into the side of the hill.

Source:

"Hotel." Therme Vals: Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.