The first 10 years of my professional life had only to do with running away from my father. He was a wonderful cabinet-maker, and me being the eldest son, I had to take over his shop, his profession and so on and so on. I tried to escape by going to art school and then going on to industrial design and then interior design.

The quote "The first 10 years of my professional life had only to do with running away from my father. He was a wonderful cabinet-maker, and me being the eldest son, I had to take over his shop, his profession and so on and so on. I tried to escape by going to art school and then going on to industrial design and then interior design," by Peter Zumthor, reflects the internal struggle he faced in trying to carve out his own identity and career path. Zumthor, a renowned Swiss architect, opens up about the influence of his father, a skilled cabinet-maker, and the societal expectation that he, as the eldest son, would follow in his father's footsteps by taking over the family business.

Zumthor’s mention of trying to “escape” highlights his desire to break free from these expectations and pursue his own passion. Instead of taking up the family craft, he sought a path in the arts, first attending art school, and then exploring industrial design and interior design. This desire to escape his father’s legacy indicates Zumthor's yearning for creative freedom and independence, wanting to define his own professional identity.

Despite his efforts to avoid his father’s influence, Zumthor’s journey ultimately led him to architecture, a field where his deep understanding of craftsmanship and materials would come to play a central role. The tension between his familial obligations and personal ambitions is a recurring theme in his life, and this struggle shaped his later work as an architect. The skills and knowledge he gained from his father’s cabinet-making influenced his approach to architecture, where precision and attention to materiality are key.

In essence, this quote offers insight into Zumthor’s personal journey and how the early pressures of family and tradition shaped his path, ultimately leading him to create a unique architectural style. It highlights the tension between familial duty and the pursuit of personal creativity, showing that even when trying to escape, the influence of craftsmanship and family legacy can still shape one’s destiny.