Architect's journey.

Every once in a while, I drift away from the routine of the office to explore architecture elsewhere. Recently, I traveled to Verona, northeast Italy, and the southern parts of the Austrian and Swiss Alps. The motivation: to visit works by Carlo Scarpa and Peter Zumthor. Although their work differs significantly, both architects demonstrate a strong allegiance to the contextual surroundings of their buildings, largely through textural and atmospheric presence. These notions very much inform and inspire the work we are doing in our offices in New York and Tel-Aviv.

 

These images, which are sketchy and disoriented at times, serve as a visual journal and a collection of moments to remember. 

By Gil Even-Tsur. גיל אבן-צור 

Gate.  castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Gate.  castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Courtyard. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Courtyard. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Plaster exhibition walls.  castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Plaster exhibition walls.  castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Copper drops on stone. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Copper drops on stone. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Floor detail. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Floor detail. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Art. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Art. castelvecchio museum, Verona. (Scarpa, restored 1973)

Inner courtyard. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969) 

Inner courtyard. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

 

Looking at the inner courtyard. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Looking at the inner courtyard. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Water flow. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Water flow. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Golden tiles in raw concrete wall. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Golden tiles in raw concrete wall. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Floor detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Floor detail. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Inner courtyard. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Inner courtyard. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia ( Scarpa 1969)

Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Grand staircase. Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Grand staircase. Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Mosaic floor. Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Mosaic floor. Olivetti showroom. Piazza san Marko. Venezia. ( Scarpa 1958)

Lobby. Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Lobby. Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Etched glass and steel Facade assembly. Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Etched glass and steel Facade assembly. Kunsthaus Bregenz. Austria. (Zumthor 1997) 

Werkraum Bregenzwald. Austria. (Zumthor 2012) 

Werkraum Bregenzwald. Austria. (Zumthor 2012) 

St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

Door detail.  St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

Door detail.  St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

 St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

 St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

Interior.  St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

Interior.  St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

Interior.  St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

Interior.  St. Benedict Chapel. Sumvitg Switzerland. ( Zumthor 1989) 

An old military building. Switzerland.  

An old military building. Switzerland.  

 An old military building. Switzerland.  

 An old military building. Switzerland.  

Cafe at the Chur Art museum. Chur Switzerland. (Zumthor 1990) 

Cafe at the Chur Art museum. Chur Switzerland. (Zumthor 1990) 

Cafe at the Chur Art museum. Chur Switzerland. (Zumthor 1990) 

Cafe at the Chur Art museum. Chur Switzerland. (Zumthor 1990) 

Rainbow over an elementary school. Switzerland. ( architect: unknown)

Rainbow over an elementary school. Switzerland. ( architect: unknown)