Submitted by Jieling Xiao, 2025
Location
Mechernich, Germany
Designer
Peter Zumthor
Year
2007
Visual Credit
Keenan Ngo
Description
The Bruder Klaus Field Chapel designed by Peter Zumthor, is a meditative space deeply rooted in materiality, craftsmanship, and sensory experience—including smell. It was built as a private devotional space for farmer Hermann-Josef Scheidtweiler and his wife, dedicated to Swiss hermit-saint Bruder Klaus (Nicholas of Flüe).Zumthor’s design aims to create a sacred, introspective space using raw, natural materials and primitive building techniques. The goal was to evoke a spiritual, almost primordial experience that connects the visitor to the earth, silence, and time.
Highlights
A key part of the chapel’s uniqueness—and olfactory character—comes from its construction method, which intentionally infused the space with the scent of scorched timber and earthy concrete:
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Process: The inner formwork consisted of 112 tree trunks, arranged in a tepee-like shape. Concrete was poured around them in layers.
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Scent Source: After curing, the logs were set on fire and burnt out, leaving behind a charred wooden interiorthat smells of smoke, soot, and resin.
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Sensory Atmosphere: The residual scorched scent mixed with the damp, mineral smell of raw concrete creates a powerful, elemental olfactory profile—both sacred and primeval.
Scent characteristics
The smell of burnt pine lingers, akin to a fireplace or charred forest. As the structure ages, these smells blend, reinforcing a feeling of timelessness and natural decay.The scent of uncured concrete and moist earth reflects how the building responds to the weather.
Reference / Acknowledgement
Kennan Ngo. 2022. A Zumthor endeavour. https://medium.com/adventurearc/a-zumthor-endeavour-a020e2bc8cac (accessed on 21st May 2025)
Smellscape Catalogue: 