2023 ARCHITECTURAL CERAMIC ASSEMBLIES WORKSHOP

ZGF and LERA’s research focuses on enhancing the performance of exterior façade systems, aiming to advance beyond the aesthetics of terra cotta to use its unique material properties to improve building performance. Metrics studied may include thermal value, embodied carbon, durability, light reflection, structural efficiency, acoustics, or fabrication efficiency. Research methods are also being evaluated to reduce system cost and improve system sustainability.

Pickard Chilton is interested in creating an expressive design language that alternate materials such as metal cannot achieve, by investigating terra cotta’s distinct technical and artistic qualities. Along with Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), the team will explore sculptural properties that tell a story unique to this material, forming an argument for the incorporation of terra cotta into real-world projects. Paired with an understanding of manufacturing and fabrication processes, their goal is to leverage these characteristics to develop a freestanding, hybrid structural system that could lend itself to a larger interior or exterior application, such as a feature stair or accent wall.

RIOS and Arup propose to design and develop a tiled, terra cotta cladding assembly which can be modulated to harness the sun, wind, and rain in creating a porous and bio-climatically responsive exterior system. The concept of a high-performance facade will be investigated to formulate an innovative, sustainable, and regionally responsive system of enclosure. The team is focusing on research topics such as biophilia, solar performance, natural ventilation, rainwater retention, and evaporative cooling.

Teaming up with Studio NYL, HGA is revisiting the design of their Center for Arctic Studies at Bowdoin College, to explore a custom extruded terra cotta plank that better preserves the expression of the original cladding concept. Due to budget challenges, the design team had to exchange stone planks for standard long-format brick. However, extruded terra cotta planks have a hollow interior that allows for strength and weight optimization to permit longer lengths than a masonry crew could typically handle with solid stone, and results in about a one-third reduction of clay when compared to a long-format brick. The efficiency to be gained from field installation due to lighter weights and fewer pieces, plus the reduced carbon footprint resulting from greater efficiency of material, makes terra cotta a particularly appealing option.

Henning Larsen is pairing with Thornton Tomasetti and VS1 by Innovation Glass to explore the potential of terra cotta as a self-sustaining, high-performance building skin system that addresses formal expressions, modularity and sustainability. The team wants to test opportunities for integrating other building systems such as daylight control, ventilation, and landscape elements that can contribute to a high performing skin system. Their goal is to develop a solution using terra cotta that can adapt to different typology of architecture and facade expressions while functioning as an integral building component.

Team CO Architects’ approach aims to maximize the way people experience terra cotta. The screen system can be viewed from all sides, inside and out, and acts as a shading device, a rainwater shedding and collection system, and a potential place for plants to grow. The terra cotta module is designed to generate a large variety of patterns as well as integrate texture and glazes, in contrast with exposed clay body surfaces, to create versatile compositions that make the experience of the material diverse and surprising depending on location and light.

The Selldorf Architects and Socotec team halved the weight of their rainscreen prototype by reducing the subframe, forming thermal ridges in terra cotta, and less material use.