In writing for Globescope, I wonder about the next story, who’s my favourite architect? What are my favourite projects? Who’s work is consistency excellent and pushes the boundaries? There’s all the usual incredible architects like Herzog & de Meuron or David Chipperfield or Neri & Hu but for some reason Swiss architect Peter Zumthor never seems to jump out like those other ‘profile’ architects do. And l am wondering why: his work is beautiful, crafted, expressive, consistent (over years) and l think the answer lies in the work. Like Peter Zumthor himself, his work has a restraint and modesty and in a world of people shouting for attention, Peter Zumthor stands in silence, letting the work do the talking.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, a reflective stream. Rolex Learning Centre, a rolling landscape. New Museum, stacked mesh cubes. Moriyama house, a courtyard village. Japanese architects SANAA somehow manage to package complex ideas and distil them into an elegant outcome that walks that fine line between sculpture, architecture and play….and they make it look easy.