Renowned German director Wim Wenders is appearing before audiences with his new documentary about the buildings and design approach of Peter Zumthor, one of the leading figures in contemporary architecture. The film, titled “From Inside Out – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor”, approaches architecture not merely as a visual element, but as an experience that shapes life.
The 114-minute German-Swiss co-production will be screened in the non-competition selection at the 2026 Venice Film Festival. Wenders places the perspectives of users and people interacting with the spaces at the center of Zumthor’s buildings. Made using 3D filming technology, the film aims to give viewers the feeling of walking through the buildings.
The project is based on a short film that Wenders and Zumthor made together for the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012. While filming for the feature-length documentary began in 2020, principal photography took place in Norway in 2024.
The film also features several of Zumthor’s notable buildings. Projects such as the Steilneset Memorial in Norway, the Bruder Klaus Chapel and Kolumba Museum in Germany, and the Therme Vals in Switzerland are among the documentary’s focal points.
Centering on the material-, light-, and atmosphere-focused design philosophy of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the production aims to offer a different perspective on the relationship between architecture and cinema.
