Site Logo

Life of an Architect

  • Podcast
  • about me
  • Questions / Contact
  • F. A. Q.
  • Do you want to be an Architect?
  • Architecture Books+
You are here: Home / Architects / The Finished Building is your Best Argument

The Finished Building is your Best Argument

March 30, 2016 by Bob Borson 15 Comments

You might be surprised to learn that I am not on a first name basis with Peter Zumthor. Everything that I know about myself tells me that he and I would enjoy each others company … at least I would, and that’s 87% of the reason he and I should be hanging out. Interestingly enough, when I find some downtime and I want to randomly search the internet, I start with Peter Zumthor. Most recently, I stumbled upon an article that I enjoyed quite a bit and it ended with a quote that cemented my logic for why he and I should be internet best friends.

Peter Zumthor Zinc Mine
© Archive Peter Zumthor

The article I read was on Peter Zumthor and his Zinc Mine Museum Project in Norway, and I found it in the digital version of Icon magazine. In this article, Zumthor discusses the project and addresses the numerous delays – some of which can be attributed to Zumthor’s legendary perfectionism. What I really enjoyed was the final two paragraphs that explained Zumthor’s take on the sometimes timely process of creating architecture in a methodical and exacting method.

I don’t want to be slow,” Zumthor explains of his uncompromising method, taking a sip of his cappuccino. “I’m a fast thinker, and I don’t want it to take more time than it takes. But sometimes it takes a while to develop something, you have to make samples and mock-ups, sometimes it takes time to find out what the building really wants to be. I imagine my buildings so completely, I unconsciously live in them. And all of a sudden I feel, hey shit, something’s wrong.

“There’s this corner that doesn’t work or whatever. That’s the artistic process. It’s grounded to artists, and it should also be grounded to architects who work like building artists. This is not slowness, this is just working like an architect-artist. This is how I need to work and I need a client who understands it, and wants it, and knows that this can get on your nerves sometimes.”

“The finished building,” he adds, with a chuckle, “is your best argument.”

How can you not love that? Despite the process taking a long time, which can quite honestly get on everybody’s nerves, his response is “The finished building is your best argument.”

 

… that’s going to be my new motto.

Chuckling,

Bob-AIA scale figure

For the entire article, head over to Icon

even better stuff from Life of an Architect

New Year, New Adventures (That Might Kill Me)

Conference Calls are Killing Me

What to Get an Architect for Christmas (2016)

Kate and the Fun Run

Children's Playhouse 2011 - Complete!

Honor Awards

The Ethereal Decision-Making Process for the Creative Mind

How big is your blog?

Something All Architects Should Know
Being an Architect is Hell ... My "New" House

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: Architects, Observations, Quotes Tagged With: great to work with architects, quotes

Search Life of an Architect

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidiHeartRadioby EmailTuneInRSS

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Apparel for Architects

T-Shirts for Architects - Bob Borson

Support for Advice or Guidance - or if you simply want to show appreciation for the content produced on this site

Thanks!
Other Amount
Project Reference or Support for Questions Answered:

My “Serious” Disclaimer

The complimentary advice provided on ‘Life of an Architect’ is based on an abbreviated examination of the minimal facts given, not the typical extensive (and sometimes exhaustive) analysis I conduct when working with my clients. Therefore, anything you read on this site is not a substitute for actually working with me. Following my casual advice is at your own peril … if you want my undivided attention, I would recommend hiring me. Cheers.

Pages

  • Comment Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Architecture Books+
  • about me
  • Questions?
  • F. A. Q.
  • Do you want to be an Architect?
  • Podcast

Life of an Architect | Bob Borson

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Archives of Awesomeness

Copyright © 2025 Life of an Architect

 

Loading Comments...