bat el hirsh 3D prints stackable earthenware to build a natural cooling system

for this project bat el hirsh explores the history of ceramics and its material nature. after taking a closer look at ancient pottery and the relationship between clay, water, and air, her research has culminated in the creation of a series of stackable earthenware units, called ‘earthenwind’.

images and video courtesy of bat el hirsh

by looking to the past but using modern technology, bat el hirsh has created these 3D printed ceramic blocks that can be stacked together to form a permeable screen. like mashrabiya from islamic architecture, these screens can offer shading from the sun and cooling in hot climates, all the while adding a decorative element to the building façade.

‘ancient pottery is a kind of a ‘fingerprint’ that man left wherever he lived. its wide dissemination and resistance to the ravages of time allow us to use pottery as a valuable source of information. ancient traditions in the middle east utilized the properties of clay for cooling and ventilation. these material properties remain relevant today, despite the passage of time and technological advancements,’ says bat el hirsh. in essence, the project aims to bring this ancient ware to the cutting-edge of ceramic technology, and to a new world rich with possibilities.

project info:

project name: earthenwind

design: bat el hirsh

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom