The new installation, supported by the Ceramic Technology Institute (Institution de Tecnología Cerámica, ITC) in Castellón, Spain, explored the design opportunities of a novel ceramic 3D printing strategy. The project is a prototype for the additive manufacturing of ceramic building components in an industrial scale.
The pavilion showcased the expressive potential of ceramic 3D printing, and tested the adaptation of principles of thermodynamic heat transfer to 3D printed geometry. The shape and design are products of current research related to the thermal performance of naturally ventilated spaces – the result of a collaboration with Salman Craig and Matan Mayer from the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities.
Its pyramid shape facilitates upward air movement, and the interior geometry impacts the thermal exchange between ambient air and the interior mass/surface. The contoured, sinusoidal texture of the interior surface is designed to optimize the ratio of surface area to thermal mass, and maximize the potential for cooling through natural ventilation and buoyancy effects.
This story was originally published in Ceraspaña 39, a journal published by ASCER/Tile of Spain to promote the use and benefits of Spanish ceramic tiles in contemporary architecture and interior design. Read the article and view past issues HERE.