When it comes to terracotta, we need to think big

Age-old materials such as clay are somewhat cosmically fascinating as their design evolution reflects not only the mindsets but the emotional turmoils experienced by a stream of generations as well. Each period comes with its particularities, sensibilities, and, beyond all else, signature touch. An extension of the historically impactful Fornace Sant’Anselmo, Terraformæ seeks to expand and enrich the potential of clay by rethinking its role and use through a contemporary lens. By bringing together experts, designers, architects, and researchers from all over the world, the Venice-based incubator rewrites the rules on clay-centered design and product ideation.

It should come as no surprise that clay tends to be temperamental–unpredictable by all counts. A challenging material to work with, clay needs to be thoroughly studied and unequivocally understood so that vision and technique can seamlessly coalesce. Slight changes in production parameters, such as setting the right kiln temperature or adding an unexpected ingredient into the mix, can lead to very different and unanticipated results.

The core team behind Terraformæ has managed to master their relationship with clay as the hub is driven by the same bold, experience-based, and detail-oriented attitude their parent company applies to the material. Terraformæ’s practice utilizes constantly brewing research, strategies, and methods which allows them to approach challenges via analysis from every possible angle.

Established in 1903 in Padua by the De Checchi family, Fornace Sant’Anselmo was the first company in the region to have its own kiln for the firing of bricks–a process businesses and individuals used to apply by hand. Decades later, it became an Italian pioneer in the production of soft mud bricks and a leader in the production of facing bricks.

Five generations past, the De Checchi family still leads with passion and precision as it marries tradition with innovation in creating high-quality, creativity-infused products. Terraformæ, the brainchild of Alberto de Checchi, is the latest chapter of Fornace Sant’Anselmo’s storied journey in the fields of terracotta. Sveva Bizzotto serves as Creative Director, while Carlo Zambon acts as laboratory specialist. 

In its unwavering commitment to efficient production processes, flexibility is Terraformæ’s cornerstone. The studio has strategically invested in state-of-the-art technology and prioritizes versatility in its every endeavor. This includes establishing multiple lines with different clay mixes ready for immediate production or fine-tuning the firing processes to align with specific temperature requirements. In their craftsmanship, Terraformæ intensifies terracotta’s charm and enticing presence. 

One unexpected way to do so is by celebrating the material’s inherent imperfections. Sveva Bizzotto’s Potoro collection conveys a tasteful innovation of the well-known Potoro technique. Conventionally, it unifies the colors of bricks from different production batches, using very fine inorganic pigments that can be absorbed by terracotta after firing. Instead, Bizzotto has chosen for the tiles to be colored with a soothing watercolor effect which showcases terracotta’s unprecedented design potential.

Other Terraformæ concepts play with our perceptions. Pietro Bongiana and Silvia Codato’s Split tiles enhance an element that is traditionally minimized: the joint. The Bongiana Architetture studio has designed terracotta tiles marked by a groove (either diagonal or straight) that runs along the surface, elegantly dividing it into two sections. Once laid, the groove is filled with colored grout and becomes part of a drawing that includes the joints between each unit. The pattern evokes an open-to-interpretation rhythmic line motif.

But then there’s also the aspect of multifunctionality. After witnessing Terraformæ’s kiln, Swedish-American designer Shane Schneck was so impressed by it that he felt propelled to design an object solely based on the foundational component of the kiln: the brick. Radiator, an aesthetically pleasing brick item fit for domestic use, is inspired by the extruded elements used for breezeblocks and sunshades. Its wave-like shape renders it a versatile and modern object holder adaptable to every context.

When it comes to terracotta, Terraformæ thinks big as the creative collective dispersed all around the world actively seeks out uncharted territories through systematic experimentation and a relentless drive for discovery.