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.