ECAlab has opened its new exhibition Cerámica at RIBA North, the RIBA’s new national architecture centre on the Liverpool Waterfront.

It is widely recognised that the decoration of objects and spaces, and the development of complex technologies defines our species. Our combined dexterity, creativity and ability to cooperate has enabled us to manipulate our environment and connect with each other on a global scale. Pre-industrial making techniques and the proliferation of technology are often seen as opposing forces, one favouring the local – the development of vernacular language and context; the other favouring global processes – optimisation and standardisation.

In this exhibition, we see how traditional ceramic techniques and digital engineering processes can be used together to produce more meaningful and sustainable architectural elements.  A selection of national and international ceramicists were asked to further develop optimised building screens, created using digital environmental and fabrication technology. Through their input, the resulting ceramic ceilings and walls host individual vernacular languages, support heritage and local identity, and transform the preliminary engineered product into a more socially, ethically and environmentally sustainable building component.

Cerámica features full-scale prototypes of light-diffusing facades and ceilings, accompanied by a film explaining the experimental design methodologies explored through the ECAlab. The exhibition runs between 28 October 2017 – 10 February 2018, and will be supported by the Moulding Futures Symposium, to discuss prospective scenarios for ceramics within architecture.

Cerámica Programme of Events

Exhibition Opening Times
Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm

Saturday 28 October

Exhibition and ECAlab Film open to the public.
11.00 – 13.00 Moulding Futures: Artist workshop I
FREE public presentations by Jo Taylor, Jenny Beavan and Dave Binns
13.00 – 14.00 Curated tour by ECAlab
14.00 – 16.00 Children’s clay workshops lead by Jo Taylor. Numbers limited so please book.

Saturday 18 November
Moulding Futures: Artist workshop II
10.30 – 14.00 FREE public presentation by Wendy Lawrence, Jo Keogh, Julie Fewster and Matt
Davis
14.00 – 16.00 Children’s clay workshops lead by Wendy Lawrence. Numbers limited so please book.

Friday 8 December
Moulding Futures: Architectural Ceramics Symposium
A one day conference bringing together industry professionals, architects, engineers, and ceramicists to discuss emerging thinking and ceramic futures.Speakers include:
Alexis Harrison, ARUP engineers, London
Antoni Cumella, Ceramica Cumella, Barcelona
Eric Parry, Eric Parry Architects, London
Martin Bechthold, Harvard University, Massachusetts
Maximiliano Arrocet, AL_A Architects, London.

Saturday 9 December
10.30-11.30 Curator tour by ECAlab. FREE but numbers limited so please book.

Saturday 13 January
Moulding Futures: Artist workshop 2
10.30 – 14.00  FREE public presentation by Wendy Lawrence, Edit Szabo, Lanty Ball and Emma Finch
14.00-16.00 Children’s clay workshops lead by Wendy Lawrence. Numbers limited, so please book.

Saturday 27 January
10.30-11.30 Curator tour by ECAlab. FREE but numbers limited so please book.

Saturday 10 February
10.30-11.30 Curator tour by ECAlab. FREE but numbers limited so please book.

For more details visit www.architecture.com/ceramica

ECAlab explores the possibilities of ceramics for sustainable technologies, while examining the role of emerging digital technologies alongside traditional ceramic craftsmanship skills.  It brings together a number of academic institutions with leading professionals, designers, engineers, architects and ceramicists to realise projects with an environmentally sustainable focus. Ultimately its aim is to develop new applications for ceramics within an architectural context and introduce emerging designers with new ways of thinking about this material.

See more about our Call for Artists and our Chosen Artists-Collaborators.

Exhibition Sponsors

University of Liverpool, Leeds Beckett Uni,
Tile of Spain, ASCER, RIBA North
Network, Liverpool English B
Liverpool Hope Uni, Gywndr Uni
LITE, Mosteiro, Arts Council Wales
Field Design, Cinetecture, Arciform

For more information contact us at: info@ecalab.org