Archinect
Ali Noormohammadi

Ali Noormohammadi

New York

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Case Study of the Therme Vals, Peter Zumthor 1996

Zumthor uses the gradients of sunlight movement and scale to create a space that leads the user through a physical journey, providing a meditative experience from the physical and metaphorical darkness to the physical brightness and metaphorical enlightenment.

 
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Status: School Project
Location: 7132 Vals, Switzerland
My Role: Designer

 
Therme Vals is located in the Swiss Canton of the Graubunden Canton, Vals Village, Swiss, and It has international borders with Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Therme Vals is located in the Swiss Canton of the Graubunden Canton, Vals Village, Swiss, and It has international borders with Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
“… This architectural design work has meant always think bathing rituals. The Architecture we have developed step by step inspired us to see the bathing experience in a new light, to find new options and ways to let go of some things to rediscover the original forms. Instead, the study of the art of bathing has influenced our architecture. A certain openness and radicalism marked our path, accompanied by a group of people whose Vals community was responsible for overseeing the project…...
“… This architectural design work has meant always think bathing rituals. The Architecture we have developed step by step inspired us to see the bathing experience in a new light, to find new options and ways to let go of some things to rediscover the original forms. Instead, the study of the art of bathing has influenced our architecture. A certain openness and radicalism marked our path, accompanied by a group of people whose Vals community was responsible for overseeing the project…
Peter Zumthor

Initially, you will be in a close and tight space with a minimum artificial light source.

During the movement, two main factors will be increased gradually, the light source and space. Through this movement, you will find a sense of freedom.

The meander, as we call it, is a designed negative space between the blocks, a space that connects everything as it flows throughout the entire building, creating a peacefully pulsating rhythm. Moving around this space means making discoveries. You are walking as if in the woods. Everyone there is looking for a path of their own.”
Peter Zumthor

As an internal trip, movement from inside to outside, follow the light source to reach freedom, crack the peels and then come out from the inside, clean our mind, soul, and body with the holy water, and start filling them out with bright thoughts.....MOMENT.

Movement Diagrams
Movement Diagrams
Feelings during the transmission
Feelings during the transmission