Material Processes and Systems (MaP+S), lead by Martin Bechthold, is a research unit that promotes the understanding, development and deployment of innovative technologies for buildings. MaP+S looks at materiality as starting points for design research, with a special interest in robotic and computer-numerically controlled (CNC) fabrication processes as well as small scale work on nano-materials. On the occasion, this project was developed by Material Processes and Systems Group, supplemented with material research by Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica in Castellón.
Ceramic Morphologies explores the design opportunities of a novel ceramic 3d printing strategy. The pavilion is meant to showcase the expressive potential of ceramic 3d printing. The shape and design are products of research related to the thermal performance of naturally ventilated spaces. Its pyramidal shape facilitates upward air movement, and the interior geometry impacts the thermal exchange between ambient air and the interior mass/surface. Whereas, the contoured, sinusoidal texture of the interior surface is designed to optimize the ratio of surface area to thermal mass, and maximize the potential for cooling through natural ventilation and buoyancy effects. For all this, the project team created different mathematical models with the aim of predicting the thermal behavior of the system.
