The House Without a Form

We think of this house in terms of
scents and smells and light perfumes
of sounds, reverberations, noise
in terms of dimness, shadow, light
enclosure and exposure
openness and containment
intimacy and spaciousness
density and looseness
looking out, being inside
a charged composition of
materials ordered in rooms
oak, brass, wax
a sequence of atmospheres of
colors, shines and hues
thresholds
seams and joints from
one material piece to another
tactile qualities.
We don't think of this house in terms of form.

Peter Zumthor

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