Acoustically Arched

Inhabitable Ceramic Skin

Exterior rendering of the dance plaza viewed in between the ceramic tiled benches with the building in the background.

Inhabitable Ceramic Skin

Overview

This studio was different in that it focused on the use of a singular material: ceramics. It also was a larger studio class and so we worked in teams of two. My partner and I spent a lot of time working with clay and learning about the technical properties of ceramics and different ways they can be used in building skins.

Our program had to at least in corporate housing, but could be mixed use with the second program up to us. In the end, we decided to make it a combination of residential and dancing. We had a large open interior/exterior space to celebrate the culture and traditions of dancing in Colombia.

Site Plan

Drawing of the site plan with a roof plan of the designed building and its surrounding context in Cartagena, Colombia.
Site Plan

The small area and triangular shape of the site located in Cartagena, Columbia was challenging to work with, however it had great views to the water we wanted to accentuate.

Sketches

Diagrammatic sketch of a moveable planter within a frame.
Planter Sketches
Axon sketch showing building, seating, and trees within walls lining the plaza.
Axon Sketch
Colored pencil sketch of plaza plan with detail of wall with bench and trees.
Sketch of Plaza Plan

Design Sketches

A frame with various size openings and various planter sizes within them. The larger ones have silhouettes of people standing in them.
Inhabitable Frame and Planter Diagram
A different view of the frame with various size openings and various planter sizes within them. The larger ones have silhouettes of people standing in them.
Opposite View Frame and Planter Diagram
Diagram of the sizing and different views of a traditional ceramic roof tiles.
Traditional Ceramic Roof Tiles
Sketches of ceramic roof tiles becoming planters and layering them together to create a wave pattern.
Ceramic Roof Tile Sketches

My partner and I started our brainstorm with two very different ideas. I wanted to use planters set in a frame, while my partner took inspiration from the curvilinear form of traditional ceramic tiles. Together, we incorporated both of our seemingly opposing ideas into one building. The flowy, curvilinear form of the dance level leads to an open patio for easy access to an indoor/outdoor living based on the warm climate. The upper levels of residential living comprise of four studio apartments on floors two, three, and four. Then on the roof, there is a larger community garden with even more space for planting.

Inhabitable Ceramic Skin Animated Parti

Design goals of this building include:

Physical Models

Early on, we did a lot of research into the properties of clay as well as look at other architectural precedents that utilize ceramics. However, having the chance to work and model with the material proved to be the most beneficial. Many questions arose, such as what unique opportunities does the material provide? Or, what physical limitations shape and change our original ideas?

The front view of a frame made out of clay with three different size planters in front.
Front View of Clay Frame and Planters
An angled view of the frame with the planters made out of clay in it.
Angled View of Frame and Planters
A different angled view of the frame with the planters made out of clay in it.
Opposite Side of Frame and Planters

Working with the actual clay, it became evident that if we keep the frame idea, it should be made out of another material and the planters should be the element made out of clay.

An angled view of two rows of ceramic tiles creating a wave form with every other tile cut in half.
Roof Tile Curves
The two rows of ceramic tiles stack on top of each other with every other tile cut in half creating an opening.
Stacked Roof Tiles
A wall inspired by the ceramic tile wave form with a window opening, and benches made in the curved form.
Roof tile inspired wall with window and benches

Modeling with the roof tile idea led to a larger exploration of form, playing with concave and convex waves creating balconies and benches within the form.

A physical model showcasing the curved wave form on the lower level made out of paper and the frame above made out of basswood sticks.
A process sectional model combining the roof tile and frame idea showing the dance plaza

Sectional Axons

A drawing of a sectional axon cutting the building in half showing silhouettes of people interacting within the spaces.
Plaza Sectional Axon
A drawing of the opposite view of a sectional axon cutting the building in half showing silhouettes of people interacting within the spaces.
Street Sectional Axon

Floor Plans

Drawing of the Ground floor plan showing surrounding context and the dance plaza.
Ground Floor Plan
Drawing of the typical residential level floor plan with furniture.
Typ. Residential Floor Plan
Drawing of the roof level floor plan with planters.
Roof Plan

Planter Detail

The planters on the residential level are moveable within the established framed facade. The planters fit over the frame and secure with pins on either side. These planters are the ceramic element on the residential levels.

Detail drawing of two different planter sizes with dimensions shown in cross and longitudinal section as well as elevation.
Planters Detail: Two sizes of Planters in Cross Section, Longitudinal Section, Elevation

Inhabitable Ceramic Skin Final Design

Exterior rendering of the dance plaza viewed in between the ceramic tiled benches with the building in the background.
Dance Plaza View
Rendering of the residential level frame with planters looking into one of the bedrooms.
Bedroom View

While we didn’t fully use ceramics in a structural way, the wave form was inspired by tiles and cladded with them, while the wooden frame held up a series of ceramic planters. All apartments also have great views in two directions with various balconies, either facing the water or the dance plaza below. Overall, this studio was a great opportunity to study ceramics in depth and learn how it can be used in different ways architecturally.