desire

the clear, logical development of a work of architecture depends on rational and objective criteria. when i permit subjective and unconsidered ideas to intervene in the objective course of the design process, i acknowledge the significance of personal feelings in my work.

when architects talk about their buildings, what they say is often at odds with the statements of the buildings themselves. this probably connected with the fact that they tend to talk a good deal about the rational, thought-out aspects of their work and less about the secret passion that inspires it.

the design process is based on a constant interplay of feeling and reason. the feelings, preferences, longings, and desires that emerge demand to be given a form must be controlled by critical powers of reasoning, but it is our feelings that tell us whether abstract considerations really ring true. to a large degree, designing is based on understanding and establishing systems of order. yet i believe that the essential substance of the architecture we seek proceeds from feeling and insight. precious moments of intuition result from patient work. with the sudden emergence of an inner image, a new line in a drawing, the whole design changes and is newly formulated within a fraction of a second. it is as if a powerful drug were suddenly taking effect. everything i knew before about the thing i am creating is flooded by a bright new light. i experience joy and passion, and something deep inside me seems to affirm: 'i want to build this house!'

[peter zumthor. thinking architecture. page 21]