In nine short, illustrated chapters framed as a process of self-observation, Peter Zumthor describes what he has on his mind as he sets about creating the atmosphere of his houses.

Images of spaces and buildings that affect him are every bit as important as particular pieces of music or books that inspire him.

From the composition and "presence" of the materials to the handling of proportions and the effect of light, this poetics of architecture enables the reader to recapitulate what really matters in the process of house design. Materials react with one another and have their radiance, so that the material composition gives rise to something unique. Material is endless.