ABSTRACT
As the son of a cabinetmaker, Peter Zumthor spent his youth surrounded by the crafting
of materials. Later, he formally studied furniture design at the University of Art and Design
in Basel. These studies expanded to the architectural environment, and in 1967, Zumthor
began his architectural career working for the Swiss government. In 1978, Zumthor opened
his private practice in Haldenstein, Switzerland, which continues to produce highly regarded
work around the world to this day. In 2009, Zumthor was selected as the recipient of the
Pritzker Architecture Prize, followed by the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2013. Both awards are
amongst the most significant of the profession and honor Zumthor’s lifetime of substantial
achievement.
