Architects may be limited in their power to prevent climate change, says Peter Zumthor, but they can help by designing buildings to last for centuries rather than decades.
Zumthor spoke to Dezeen on a tour of his recently completed Secular Retreat villa ? a concrete and glass holiday home in Devon, England.
The tour took place shortly after the UN issued the warning that we have just 12 years to reverse the impact of global warming, to prevent global catastrophe.
The Swiss architect said the issue was on his mind, but that he didn't feel he had much power to make a difference.
"I am aware of these things, but I can only do so much," he said.
"What I do, I do simple buildings," he continued. "In my modest way, it is a big concern." "These materials produce a nice ruin"
One thing Zumthor said he tries to do, to make his buildings more sustainable, is to ensure that they will look and function in 100-200 years time. This was the case with Secular Retreat, he explained.
"We started, in a way, by supposing that in 200 years time it is still in good condition," he explained. "It's the opposite of the fashion shop, changing its interior design every half year. In that sense, there's an ecological element."
Zumthor said he designs his buildings, like the newly complete Secular Retreat, to last for centuries. Photo is by Jack Hobhouse
"I think these materials we're using here produce a nice ruin," he added.
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