PRODUCTS: Architectural Terracotta

Architects have used terra cotta for centuries, as a flexible and versatile medium. Greenway Associates recently came across a new product, that uses this traditional medium incorporating the latest building technologies. Architectural glazed terra cotta is a product that is now offering countless possibilities to architects and designers.

We recently paid a visit to the UK installers for American company Boston Valley and were pretty impressed at how their TerraClad® system can be manufactured to clad the entire façade of a building, both new-build and existing.

The majority of their work can be seen in the US, however there are some notable London projects popping up too. You may have already seen the Rathbone Square and Newman Passage that now grace the streets of Fitzrovia.

Apart from its beautiful cosmetic appearance, this system provides benefits above and beyond conventional masonry cavity wall systems. As with any ceramic cladding, it’s durable and easy to maintain. But this system incorporates ship-lapped open joints that shield the structural wall from wind-driven rain and snow, while also ventilating the airspace to mitigate mold and mildew growth - what a win for British weather!

Boston Valley has various track systems, meaning the client can select whatever option offer greatest installation ease. Beyond the functionality of the system, the very nature of terra cotta offers a multitude of profile and glazing opportunities to designers.

We can vouch for the fact that bringing an architectural terra cotta supplier to the table early in the design process is key.