Terra Cotta Sun Created for Pacific Gate Condominiums
The entranceway of the Pacific Gate Condominiums, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox’s (KPF) New York office, incorporates a terra cotta wall manufactured by Boston Valley. The entry wallpanels, which terminate at a water feature, are inscribed with a geometric pattern in a gold luster glaze – imitating the warmth of the setting sun.
The single-form terra cotta units were ram-pressed and hand-finished using variable templates of concentric circles. Below are images of the wall laid out on the factory floor for inspection to ensure correct alignment and fit. The pieces were then hand painted with the gold luster glaze.
You can see renderings of what the final building design on the KPF website.
The layout mock-up in the factory ensures accurate alignment of all of the terra cotta units that make up the grand entry wall for the Pacific Gate Condominiums.
A close-up of one of the terra cotta units awaiting the final application of the gold luster glaze.
The gold luster glaze will create the illusion of the setting sun, with pebbled lines of varying widths radiating from a central circle.
A close-up shot of the finished terra cotta units with gold luster glaze.
The final glazed terra cotta pieces mimicking the rays of a setting sun.
