Architecture....{Mike}

The New York skyline is one of the most beautiful sights in the world, as I would know for I am originally from New York. Even though I lived in the area and have been around all of the buildings every minute of everyday I did not have the slightest clue that more than one half of the architecture is terra cotta. I knew that the famous architectural design of the opera house in Sydney, Australia was composed of small ceramic tiles, which in my opinion is one of the most visually pleasing architecture I have ever seen. But I thought ceramic was mainly used just for the art world, pottery, sculptures, etc. so to find out that it is used on some of the skyscrapers in the city surprises me.

Building Animals.......{Mike}

The point brought up in the reading about humans learning from birds, bees, and beavers is very interesting. The fact that it was said that humans learned building from animals in general is interesting. Humans have built buildings, statues, monuments, bridges, and many more things, but the concept of how to do such a thing had to be learned first. Even then humans still have the possibility of making a slight mistake ruining whatever is being built, whereas animals build on instinct. Building in way which they think is correct and years after years, animal after animal everything that they have constructed has been close to flawless servicing its purpose in every way its supposed to. For example a birds nest successfully holds the weight of the birds and its eggs a couple feet from the ground consisting of just sticks and mud.

Jonathan's Blog on TERRA COTTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terra Cotta is one of this century's most magnificent discovery for it's use throughout the architecture in the major cities of the world. It is what creates a new facade to the typical steel and cement buildings. it creates art and a new style in today's cities. Terra cotta can be used to manipulate different styles and designs of the architectural world. Ceramics used on buildings creates such a beauty that plain old cement is becoming a thing of the past. It is through ceramics on buildings that the facade at the opera house in Sydney Australia is created. The tiles are weak in larger sizes but when the tiles are small and close together to create an even more beautiful site the strength of the structure increases. Ceramics has become the architectures eighth wonder of the world.

terra-cotta

It seems strangely appropriate to me that terra cotta is so overlooked, and is often used to imitate other materials. Clay comes from humble origins, and acts humbly, not taking the credit for how much it really does. Clay very often seems to be underestimated or understated. People use it everyday and rarely pay any attention to what it is. For having such wide spread use, and versatility, you would think that clay would receive more attention, more consideration. Not only can clay look like clay, it can look like a million other surfaces, materials, and textures. Further more, in many situations, like architecture, it is more functional than say, marble, or granite. Covering a building with terra cotta tiles is infinitely easier, and cheaper, than using marble. Maybe, where the appreciation of clay is lost on the general public however, is in its efforts to look like other things. Maybe it does this too well, and the knowledge of what the material actually is, is lost. Also I think that the effort involved in making ceramics is not really understood by those who have never tried it. To make a piece to exact specifications is hard, and to make thousands of pieces to decorate a building seems crazy, but obviously worth the effort in the end.

Amandas Blog

When I tell people that I am taking a ceramic class, they always comment or make reference to creating dinnerware or pottery. I admit that I myself always just thought of terra cotta in that context. Not until we were assigned to this next project did I think about the true possibilities you can achieve with terra cotta . Even after knowing that it’s so durable, I honestly never thought of it being a popular material to use for architectural purposes. Just like everyone in the class has been commenting, when you think of the city of New York, large shinny metal skyscrapers come to mind. However from what I have learned from this article is that terra cotta can almost mimic any material in an architectural world. In frequent cases, there must be a profound examination to be able to correctly detect terra cotta; that’s amazing to me. It shows the endless possibilities and gets me excited enough to think outside the box for our final project. It will also be interesting to see what other people in the class will come up with. I even have noticed myself taking a second look at the walls that surround me and appreciate what many don’t. It’s fascinating to read that architects are moving toward wider ranges of material after several years of using steel and glass. Terra cotta, with all its benefits,has riled more companies in to gain newer, more original ideas in ornament, color and surface patterns. After gaining this knowledge, I look forward to noticing the change (even in the slightest detail) over the next years; how will companies begin to use terra cotta next?

Terra Cotta

I too was surprised after reading this article. I’ve been to New York City once before, and having grown up in a city myself always assumed it was a hustling and bustling concrete jungle. I suppose I’ve always associated the greyscale colors of the city with concrete and asphalt, and anything that made its way to the color wheel was simply painted or made of brick or what have you. Though, after this article I find architecture of previous times far more relatable to our current day and age. Size and mass disregarded, we still build in familiar geometric systems, so why shouldn’t we use familiar materials? That is the irony really. It’s even sort of comical. Now we have all of these towering skyscrapers and colossal structures, we figure our present architectural technology is unrivaled by those of our ancestors. Yet, even history teaches us of the wonders man built hundreds of years ago. It really is reasonable that we would harvest that knowledge and continue to foster it for the growth of our homes today. I have to wonder how many more materials with an extensive history are used in the millennium era and why they aren’t more commonly mentioned.

Sierra Palochak

The reading for this week was very intriguing. I enjoyed learning about the decorative purposes of terracotta. Before examining this reading, I had no idea about how much terracotta is used to surface buildings. I was amazed to find out that New York City is absolutely covered with ceramic artworks that were painstaking created by different craftsmen. The reading explained the various processes that were used to create these ornaments. I am learning more as I go along in this class that the production of ceramics is a time consuming process that takes unbelievable skill. I also enjoyed the part of the reading that speaks about the unique qualities of terracotta of which I was previously unaware. However, after being informed about terracotta's unique abilities, it seems to be a perfect material to adorn architecture. I was intrigued by the fact that clay has the capability to mimic other materials, an ability which lends itself to being used for various projects. The last portion of the article that was very meaningful to me was the use of color in these pieces. As a painter, color is everything to me. I believe that it completely changes how an individual perceives an artwork. I enjoy the fact that the ceramic pieces were coloful, because it allows the audience to have a full aestetic appreciation for the piece and also draws more attention from the public.

Terra Cotta

I live an hour north of New York City so I have visited there numerous times. I never realized how much really is made of terra cotta like the reading claims. I supposed a part of that is because when most people think about the architecture of NYC, they think about the new skyscrapers and the metal and lights. They buildings for teneants (which i would assume are the ones to have terra cotta) are overlooked as buildings in the city. They are a lot of people living in the Manhattan and the surrounding burrows, yet that is not the primary thought of architecture to a tourist. However, I am still not comfortable calling it the "terra cotta jungle."
Terra Cotta dos seem to make sense for NYC though. The fact that it is "unaffected by acid rain and pollution" is extremely helpful in industiralized cities. Also, terra cotta is able to look like many different materials. It has a distinct diversity, similar to the many diverse people and cultures in New York City. On a more random note, it is interesting that the author chose NYC when she writes in European English. (color vs colour).

Terra Cotta

I found this article interesting. I didn’t know that terra cotta was used so much in architecture, especially in New York City. I like how Tunick referred to New York as a “clay jungle” even though most people just assume it’s a “concrete jungle.” Tunick made a good point when she talked about ceramics seeming second best to painting and sculpture. This thought leads people astray when looking at buildings made out of terra cotta. They just assume that something made out clay wouldn’t be able to last, or they just don’t even think about terra cotta being a possible option as a building tool. The fact that terra cotta is used in skyscrapers and other buildings is also hidden because the architects used the clay abilities to mimic other materials. Terra cotta was often used and made to imitate various stones like granite or marble and even wood or iron in some cases.
Tunick then went into explaining the manufacturing process of the terra cotta. Terra cotta was hand-tailored to each project, with special attention paid to all of the requirements. Before any of the manufacturing could begin the architect and manufacturer went through multiple steps. From shop drawings to models to mold productions and preparations of clay and glazes had to first be completed. Once drawings were accepted by the architect full size models could begin being constructed. The employees who constructed these plaster models were one of the most high paid workers in the factory.

Terra Cotta

After reading this article I am interested in the use of ceramics in our everyday world. I think that we as a society take for granted the use of ceramics due to living such a fast paced life. I think it is really interesting how we go in and out of buildings and things that we occupy and don't take time to think about how they are made. I never really was interested in ceramics and clay, never really understood the dynamic and innovative aspect that one puts into making things that are clay related. But now after this class I have a total new respect for clay and those that work with it. After reading this article I think it is very interesting that clay is so manipulative and easily able to "mimic" other materials; therefore, it goes unnoticed all around us especially in major forms of architecture. For example for people to have to look closely at Terra Cotta and not be able to identify the material for what it is mind blowing. I think this article has made me stop and really look and appreciate the detail in architecture and try to understand what the artist is trying to convey.

Terra Cotta

I was quite surprised while reading this article. The first bit that jumped out to me, was a statement by Tunick, "I find the idea tantalizing that New York is a 'clay jungle' rather than the more familiar image of a 'concrete jungle." This has never occured to me. While viewing the New York City skyline, I have always been enamored by the sheer greatness of the buidlings. I would never have thought they were mostly terra cotta. This just seems amazing; a clay city. I was so interested to read about the construction process of the molded terra cotta pieces. I can't even imagine how much work actually went in to the creation of all the individual castings. I found myself in wonder when thinking about a 48 feet high by 24 ft in diameter. Walking inside these kilns would be incredible, but probably a bit overwhelming. Compared to the kilns we use in class, I cant imagine how much effort and precision it took to fire these kilns perfectly. It seems incredible to me that such a common material can hold up the most amazing structures. When looking at these buidlings, its not terra cotta that jumps right out at you. Its great to know that I material I love to use has helped to change the face of architecture as it was known in the 1920s. It really makes me think that the sky is the limit when it comes to techniques and ideas involving all types of clay.

Architectual Terra Cotta: Response

One of the characteristics of clay that I continue to find fascinating is its ability to mimic other materials. Either it be metal, stone, brick, fabric, or just about anything there is always some new way to explore the versatility of clay. In this article, the author talks about the specific way architects have capitalized on clay's versatility to make their buildings. I found the statistic claiming almost half of the New York skyline is made of architectural terra cotta very intriguing and surprising. I'm sure it is not a very popular that people visiting New York would be on the look out for the terra cotta; rather, their thoughts might be distracted by all of the shiny glass and metal walls that tower over the city. However, the fact that the terra cotta is not as obvious certainly proves the versatility of this fascinating material.

I also think that the oversight of terra cotta's prevalence in New York's skyline is the fact that we mostly think of clay in the "pottery" function. The other two categories, maybe less obvious functions of ceramics, are architectural and fixtures. Many people are very familiar with the common dinner plate or vase that are quintessential ceramic objects of the everyday. When we are required to make the switch to thinking and recognizing ceramics as a construction material, our associations might not be as clear.

Ceramics are Architecture

After reading this article I never realized how much terra cotta is in the buildings in New York. The article did a good job of explaining the process that the terra cotta goes through to be a in a building, but I would like to learn more about other places and structures besides New York or skyscrapers.

To me using terra cotta in buildings seems like an old tradition but after reading this article I feel like I know more about contemporary building. Even though some of the buildings were built in the 19^th century the terra cotta on the building is in an old style. The building process has probably changed dramatically but you would never know by just looking at it. I like the process because it is all done by hand which gives it a personality. Especially since it is on a building of such great scale it gives it a sense of amazement and fascination.

If everyone knew that most of the skyscrapers in New York mad some terra cotta in them then I think people would have a greater understanding and respect for architectural ceramics.

Now after reading this I will try and find ceramics in everyday buildings and pay closer attention to the structure of the building.

Beavers and Bees

After reading this article I realized how animals were born with the instinct of surviving. We are the more dominant species but if we were put into the wilderness right now we would die off fast.

Beavers have a great sense of building that no other animal ever has and after reading this article I realized how smart and efficient they are. I am kind of jealous in a sense because I feel that humans do not have an instinct to build something this great that is so unique to our species. Yes, we have buildings and furniture but those are designed and built by people with a talent not an instinct.

Humans rely on machines to do everything now and not our intuition and instinct. In a sense we would be digressing but we would be able to start over and create everything for ourselves again. We would be going by what our brain says and not what the computer or Internet says.

Bees to have a great sense of instinctual building. I feel that humans take for granted how smart they are. Bees have a great sense of memory and can remember flowers they have traveled to and where to put everything they collect.

Humans do have a bigger brain but we could not build anything as great a beaver dam or a bee hive.