Robotic Clay: New methods in Architectural Ceramics

This exhibition on display at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery explores the role of robotics and 3D printing in architectural ceramics.

By Canadian Interiors On Aug 16, 2023

Acoustic Resonator Vases: Inverted neck design prototypes. Glazed stoneware, plywood. An inverted neck design for a compact Helmholtz resonator concept. (Nicholas Hoban, John Nguyen, Brady Peters, Ross Cocks, Nermine Hassanin, Elham Khatei, Yuuko Kosame Li-Han, Pablo Espinal Henao, Robin Yu Bin He, Paul Kozak, Rahul Sehijpaul, Liam Cassano. Daniels Robotic Prototyping Lab, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto)

Robotic Clay: New Methods in Architectural Ceramics, which is currently on display at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ont., explores the role of robotics and 3D printing in architectural ceramics.

HIVE: 3D-printed masonry wall prototype 2, Unglazed stoneware. An interlocking masonry wall composed of 175 unique 3D-printed clay bricks. (Ye Sul E. Cho, Ji Shi, Meghan Taylor, David Correa, James Clarke-Hicks, Isabel Ochoa. University of Waterloo School of Architecture)

Crafting with clay is an art form that evolves through gradual and innovative steps, each imprinting its mark on the clay’s surface. The exhibition invites the audience to grasp this ongoing development within the context of technological strides in manufacturing driven by the digital revolution.

Cool Bodies, Unglazed stoneware. A work-in-progress investigation seeking to coalesce geometric and material attributes to produce optimized architectural cooling screens. (Matt Sealy, Lucy Ferraro, Alex Crosby, Rodrigo Guerreiro, Gabriel Malo, Myrk Orvsson, Calum Molitor-Dyer, James Forren. Dalhousie University School of Architecture)

The exhibition aims to unite academic institutions from all over North America to present architectural ceramics created through robotic methods.

Reinterpreting the double wythe Brick Wall, Unglazed stoneware. A traditional double wythe brick wall uses two layers of brick separated by a space to create a structural wall. (Sheryl Boyle, Adonis Lau, Meaghan Dickson, Catalin Bacalu, Ju Huang, Shela Lamug, Slade Solomon, George Gialouris-Tsivikas, Stephanie Murray, Mark MacGuigan. Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism, Carleton University)

By merging traditional ceramic craft with robotic fabrication, the exhibition delves into the potential of aligning emerging technologies with clay’s characteristics to forge new form and spatial languages. These artistic and spatial explorations are showcased through an array of ceramic walls and functional components of varying scales.

(Third from left) Interweave, Unglazed earthenware. Printed with an industrial Kuka Robot. (Steven Beites, Martin Hung. Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture)

The techniques of digital fabrication employed encompass clay 3D printing, waterjet carving of moist clay slabs, and CNC milling of multipart molds used in manual pressing.

The 8-Second Brick Project. Relief prints on paper, hand-carved woodblocks that can be rotated and stacked. (Tara Cooper, Department of Fine Arts, University of Waterloo)

This exhibition is made possible by the Masonry Council of Ontario, along with Nancy and Bill Schwarz in collaboration with the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo and The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery.

Robotic Clay: New Methods in Architectural Ceramics will be on display until Sept. 10, 2023.

Participants:

James Clarke-Hicks, Isabel Ochoa & David Correa (School of Architecture, University of Waterloo)
Jonathon Anderson & Linda Zhang (School of Interior Design, Toronto Metropolitan University and School of Architecture, University of Waterloo)
Steven Beites & Martin Hung (The McEwen School of Architecture, Laurentian University)
Sheryl Boyle, Meaghan Dickson, Adonis Lau, Catalin Bacalu, Ju Huang, Stephanie Murray, George Gialouris-Tsivikas, Shela Lamug, Slade Solomon, Mark MacGuigan & Rob Wood (Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism, Carleton University)
Tara Cooper (Department of Fine Arts, University of Waterloo)
Nicholas Hoban, John Nguyen, Brady Peters, Ross Cocks, Nermine Hassanin, Elham Khatei, Yuuko Kosame Li-Han, Pablo Espinal Henao, Robin Yu Bin He, Paul Kozak, Rahul Sehijpaul & Liam Cassano (The John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto)
Christopher Romano, Daniel Vrana, Nicholas Bruscia, Michael Hoover, Randy Fernando, Wade Georgi, John Archilla & Caterina Gnecco (School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo)
Matt Sealy, Lucy Ferraro, Alexander Crosby, Rodrigo Guerreiro, Gabriel Malo, Myrk Orvsson, Calum Molitor-Dyer & James Forren (School of Architecture, Dalhousie University)
Alexander Crosby (School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Calgary)
Parastoo Varshosaz (M.Arch thesis); Diana Si, Razmig Garboushian & Ali Salama; Deepakshi Mittal, Ogulnabat Jumayeva & Rifat Ara Islam; Leah Dingman, Taylor Murray & Landers Gordon; Catherine Paleczny, Yannik Sigouin & Irina Pljusznyin (Material Syntax, School of Architecture, University of Waterloo)
Ye Sul E. Cho, Ji Shi, Meghan Taylor, James Clarke-Hicks, Isabel Ochoa & David Correa (HIVE, School of Architecture, University of Waterloo in partnership with SDI Interior Design)

Curatorial Team:

David Correa, James Clarke-Hicks & Isabel Ochoa (University of Waterloo)
Denis Longchamps & Peter Flannery (The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery)