Peter Zumthor wins the Pritzker architecture prize

Relatively unknown outside his profession, Peter Zumthor, working in his office in Haldenstein, Switzerland, in 2000, has won the 2009 Pritzker architecture prize Photograph: Martin Ruetschi/AP

A view of the mountain landscape through a window of the Therme Spa in Vals, Switzerland, designed by Zumthor Photograph: Martin Ruetschi/AP

Therme Spa is an example of the ambitious craftsmanship Zumthor's applies to works of modest scale in often remote locations Photograph: Martin Ruetschi/AP

Therme Spa is a rock-cut thermal spring built according to Zumthor's plans Photograph: Christof Sonderegger/PR

The interior of the Brother Klaus field chapel in Wachendorf, Germany, was formed out of 112 tree trunks covered with layers of concrete. The trunks were then burnt away leaving their impression in the walls Photograph: Pietro Savorelli / Handout/EPA

Exterior view of Zumthor's Brother Klaus field chapel, the interior floor of which is covered in lead Photograph: Walter Mair / Handout/EPA

The Raeth twin house in Zumthor's hometown of Haldenstein was built in 1983 Photograph: Arno Balzarini/EPA

Zumthor's Kolumba, the art museum of the Cologne archdiocese in Germany, rises from the ruins of the Cologne's late gothic Saint Kolumba church Photograph: AP

Part of the interior of the Zumthor designed Kolumba in Cologne Photograph: Helene Binet/Hyatt Foundation/EPA

Zumthor designed the Kunsthaus museum in Bregenz, Austria, to be like a lamp on the edge of Lake Constance Photograph: Ennio Leanza/AP

Zumthor in front of his home in Haldenstein, the remote Swiss village in which he has worked for 30 years Photograph: Arno Balzarini/EPA