And suddenly there’s an interior and an exterior. One can be Inside or outside. Brilliant! And that means – equally brilliant! – this: thresholds, crossings, the tiny loop-hole door, the almost imperceptible transition between the inside and the outside, an incredible sense of place, an unbelievable feeling of concentration when we suddenly become aware of being enclosed, of something enveloping us, keeping us together, holding us – whether we be many or single. An arena for individuals and the public, for the private and public spheres.
Architecture knows this and uses it. I own a castle. That’s where I live and that is the facade I present to the outside world. The facade says I am, I can, I want – in other words, whatever the owner and his architect wanted when they built it. The facade also says: but I am not going to show you everything.
– Peter Zumthor in “Atmospheres”
