Zumthor | Thermal Baths: The Entrance Tunnel Through the Mountain

The entrance is not on the front of the building, but reached from within the hotel via a long tunnel excavated into the mountain: the passage is narrow, dim, and gently sloping downwards, with walls made of thin layers of local gneiss stacked meticulously like tree rings. Upon reaching the end, the space suddenly expands to the sides and upwards, with steam, reflected light, and the sound of water rushing in simultaneously—the entire entrance sequence is designed for this moment of dramatic contrast. There are only a few light points embedded in the stone seams within the tunnel, with extremely low brightness. The stone is grey-green, with cutting textures and moisture on its surface. Shot in the longitudinal direction of the interior, with deep shadows and a faint light at the end. Avoid: widening and brightening the tunnel, direct external entrance, changing stone to large slabs, adding general lighting.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

入口不在建築的正面,而是從旅館內部經由一條開鑿在山體中的長隧道抵達:通道狹窄、昏暗、微微下傾,牆為當地片麻岩層層堆疊的薄板砌體,石縫細密如年輪。走到盡頭時,空間突然向兩側與上方展開,水汽、反射的光與水聲同時湧來——整段入口是為了這一刻的落差而設計的。隧道中僅有少數嵌在石縫裡的光點,亮度極低。石材為灰綠色,表面帶著切割的紋理與濕氣。室內縱深方向拍攝,暗部深沉,盡頭有微光。避免:隧道加寬變亮、入口直接對外、石材改為大板、加設一般照明。