Architecture and composition
Becoming his first permanent building in the UK, peter Zumthor built the Secular retreat after visiting the site in the spring of 2008, and immediately getting inspired by the location, he created his first concept of a large house for up to ten people, a place where guests can come together and engage in workshops, activities, or take a holiday with a view.
Plans:
Rules of composition of this building in terms of FORM:
-Symmetry:
After viewing the plan view and some pictures the concept of symmetry was not put into consideratiopn during designing the Secular retreat due to the use of concrete to build walls.
-Materials, Colors and texture:
The materials used are mainly concrete, glass, layered all over the building, Peter stuck to basic colors that blends well and add a soft look to its surroundings, making the construction canouflages with the landscape around it. the horizontally-emphasized scheme is constructed of hand-rammed concrete forms on both interior and exterior spaces.
-Unity:
The retreat is built into one single block, and it is very understandable since it is a house made for people to connect with each others, and building it in a stack of separate blocks would contradicts the main purpose and concept behind Peter’s work.
Light:
Secular retreat is positioned in a way that allows you to feel the coziness of the sun, and by that i mean from the rise and shine till the sunset, it also adds a nostalgic vibe especially that this house is mad4e to make the habitant feel comfortable and at ease. The sun also adds a kind of extra space which make the place feel more vast than it already is.
Movement:
As noticed the pattern used in construction by Peter in this work is mainly focused on straight lines, sticking to old way of house and not adding any futuristic looking patterns that might be disturbing, and it is very excepted from such an architect since all his work is all about minimalism, simplicity and perfection.\
Soueces used: https://zumthor.org/project/secular/
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/10/29/peter-zumthor-secular-retreat-living-architecture-villa-devon/
https://www.living-architecture.co.uk/the-houses/a-secular-retreat/architecture/gclid=Cj0KCQiA8t2eBhDeARIsAAVEga2Jvu_u19mP2tx8dHsFidfWNIJGDXW4o6FgoDRQe05FZk7UyXIzMnUaAvn6EALw_wcB