Rasmus Hjortshøj-Coast, divisare.com
Peter Zumthor, Bruder Klaus Kapelle , 2007. Mechernich-Wachendorf, Germany
it, leaving behind a richly textured surface coated in a black char — a rich texture of charcoal-to-sooty tones integral to the process of making. There is an honesty to the material surfaces that do not rely on further applications of material to create additional effects. It is an efficient, integrated and thoughtful strategy employed to elevate a material quality. Deep blacks in the shadowy ridges of the corrugated concrete sit in stark contrast to the controlled slivers of light permitted to enter — a mysterious and ephemeral surface with extreme tactility that demands touch.
Formwork textures, dimensions and imperfections create an idiosyncratic choreography typifying concrete’s shape and surface qualities. Even the way the formwork is removed, after the pour and the concrete is set, can add to idiosyncrasies registered on concrete’s finished surface. Peter Zumthor’s Bruder Klaus Field Chapel in Mechernich is a compelling example of the extraordinarily beautiful results made possible by both inventive formwork and similarly inventive removal. Dowels, lining one side of the formwork, corrugate the interior surfaces. The dowel-lined formwork is removed by burning
12 on site review 48 :: building materials
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