Editing Peter Zumthor (section)

==Early life==
Zumthor was born in [[Basel, Switzerland]]. His father was a cabinet-maker, which exposed him to design from an early age and led him to become an apprentice for a carpenter later in 1958. He studied at the [[Kunstgewerbeschule]] (arts and crafts school) in his native city starting in 1963.

In 1966, Zumthor studied industrial design and architecture as an exchange student at [[Pratt Institute]] in New York. In 1968, he became conservationist architect for the Department for the Preservation of Monuments of the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Graubünden]].<ref name=NYT01/> This work on historic restoration projects gave him a further understanding of construction and the qualities of different rustic building materials. 

As his practice developed, Zumthor was able to incorporate his knowledge of materials into [[Modernist]] construction and detailing. His buildings explore the tactile and sensory qualities of spaces and materials while retaining a [[minimalist]] feel. It has been said that "Zumthor’s key building material is light."<ref name="swissinfo2023">{{Citation | last=Beutler | first=Christian | title=Peter Zumthor's key building material is light | newspaper=[[swissinfo.ch]] | date= 17 Dec 2023 | url= https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/peter-zumthor-s-key-building-material-is-light/49059570}}</ref>