Hidden deep within the Swiss Alps, this structure was built with 60,000 stone slabs to disappear into the mountain and is now considered one of the greatest works of modern architecture

Image Credit: By Micha L. Rieser Deep within the Swiss Alps, 1,200 metres above sea level, lies the small farming village of Vals. This remote location hosts a structure that challenges traditional architectural limits, the ‘Therme Vals.’ Designed by Peter Zumthor and completed in 1996, this thermal bath complex was not built to stand out but rather to get mixed into the rugged mountain landscape. By utilising the only thermal spring of the region, Zumthor created a spa that feels more like a natural sanctuary than a hotel. The project, as described in the study ‘A Phenomenological Approach Towards the Architecture of Peter Zumthor,’ focuses on creating a natural atmosphere. Through the clever use of 60,000 local stone slabs, the building connects the visitor with the rugged mountain landscape.How did the architect protect the heart of the Swiss AlpsOne of the greatest hurdles of this project was the ‘location’ itself. As Scott Murray explains in ‘Material Experience: Peter Zumthor's Thermal Bath at Vals,’ the building sits on a steep hillside, which required a design to avoid overpowering the landscape. Rather than building a tall tower, Zumthor chose to connect the structure with...