The Bollingen Tower

“What if architecture could embody the journey of the soul? In The Bollingen Tower, Martin Gledhill takes readers on an extraordinary exploration of Carl Jung’s enigmatic retreat, revealing how this unique structure serves as both a physical sanctuary and a profound psychological symbol. Gledhill’s meticulous analysis of formative locales, from Jung’s childhood rectories to the mythic resonances of Swiss castles, demonstrates how spatial environments shaped Jung’s intellectual and spiritual trajectory. Through the interplay of circles, squares, and ancestral motifs, Gledhill unveils the Tower as a liminal space where psyche and matter converge, transforming stone and space into a living testament of analytical psychology. Supported by architectural diagrams, historical photographs, and critical engagement with Jung’s writings, Gledhill presents a compelling argument that place-making is an act of soul-making, and insights into how built environments are mirrors of the Self. Perfect for scholars of Jungian psychology, architectural symbolism, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of space and psyche, The Bollingen Tower invites readers to see their own environments in a new light—where walls, windows, and foundations become reflections of the soul’s deepest journey.” —Lucy Huskinson, Professor of Philosophy at Bangor University, UK “This is a brilliant book, teeming with meticulous research and penetrating imagination. Apart from its carefully argued insights into the history, architecture, and symbolic meaning of the Bollingen Tower itself, Gledhill’s study provides a wealth of new information and perspective on some of Jung’s lesser-known (environmental) influences, deepest ideas about the interpenetration of inner and outer worlds, and most meaningful relationships. It is a major contribution to scholarship on Jung.” —Professor Roderick Main, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, UK