10,000-year-old building material is making a comeback in NYC high-rises
SOURCE: Fast Company (via MSN)
AUTHOR: Patrick Sisson
DATE: August 20, 2024
Terra cotta, traditionally used in early 20th-century urban architecture, is experiencing a revival as it adapts to modern aesthetics with sleek and streamlined designs. Its resurgence is driven by its sustainability benefits, such as energy efficiency and recyclability, which make it a favorable alternative to glass and heavy cladding materials.
Innovations in manufacturing have expanded its versatility, allowing for a wide range of shapes and colors, and contributing to a rise in terra cotta use in high-profile projects, including Boston Valley projects at 363 Lafayette and One Vanderbilt in New York City; Orange County Museum of Art in Southern California; and 120 Stockton Street in San Francisco.
The 363 Lafayette building in New York City.
One Vanderbilt supertall tower in New York City.
New regulations and incentives in cities like New York further promote its use by limiting glass façades and encouraging low-emission materials. It also helps that the clay-based terra cotta insulates, which reduces heating/cooling costs, and requires less energy to produce than steel, glass, or cement.
“Terra cotta is 100% recyclable, and very lightweight, so you can get a lot of variation and expression,” says architect and Pelli Clarke & Partners design principal Craig Copeland. “It really allows you to leverage beauty in a sustainable way because you can make beautiful buildings that are going to be beloved and . . . cared for.”
The Orange County Museum of Art in Southern California.
The 120 Stockton building in San Francisco.
