Question 1

True or false: Zumthor's studio is located in a remote Swiss village with a population under 1,000 people.

Accepted Answer

True. He works from Haldenstein, a tiny village near Chur, with fewer than 1,000 residents, reflecting his preference for solitude and focus.

Question 2

True or false: Zumthor won the Pritzker Prize in 2009, the same year he completed the Kolumba Museum in Cologne.

Accepted Answer

True. He won the Pritzker in 2009, and the Kolumba Museum, known for its thin brickwork over ruins, opened that same year.

Question 3

True or false: The Bruder Klaus Field Chapel was built by Zumthor using a unique method of rammed concrete over a wooden framework that was later burned out.

Accepted Answer

True. Locals rammed concrete in layers over a teepee-like wooden structure, then set it on fire, leaving a charred, hollow interior with a burnt smell.

Question 4

True or false: Peter Zumthor designed the Therme Vals spa in Switzerland, which is built entirely from local quartzite slabs.

Accepted Answer

True. Zumthor's iconic Therme Vals uses 60,000 precisely cut slabs of Valser quartzite, sourced locally, creating a monolithic, sensory bathing experience.

Question 5

True or false: Zumthor's Serpentine Pavilion in 2011 was a dark, enclosed garden that evoked a sense of stillness and shelter.

Accepted Answer

True. His Serpentine Pavilion was a black, introspective space with a planted courtyard, contrasting the typical airy pavilions.

Question 6

True or false: Zumthor once worked as a firefighter before becoming an architect.

Accepted Answer

False. He trained as a cabinetmaker and later studied at Pratt Institute, but never served as a firefighter—though he values craftsmanship and physical labor.

Question 7

True or false: Peter Zumthor was the first architect to have a building featured on a Swiss postage stamp.

Accepted Answer

False. While the Therme Vals appeared on a Swiss stamp in 2012, Le Corbusier and others had buildings on stamps decades earlier.

Question 8

True or false: Zumthor has designed all of his buildings using only pencil and paper, never computers.

Accepted Answer

False. While he famously sketches by hand and avoids digital renderings, his office uses computers for technical drawings and project management.

Peter Zumthor Trivia Questions