Soft Form — Burnt Clay

This course is an advanced seminar exploring the intersection of computational design, digital fabrication, and ceramic material intelligence. Students work with clay through 3D printing, hand finishing, and firing processes to create soft forms that culminate in a collective architectural scaled assembly. The nature of 3D printing allows for individual expression within the collective structure, while the production of a collaborative architecture scaled assembly will involve an understanding of tolerances and assembly strategies. Emphasizing hands-on experimentation, trial and error, and the messiness and liveliness of earthen materials, the course investigates how material behaviors inform geometry, toolpaths, and fabrication strategies. The curriculum links aesthetic exploration with performance, using terracotta's thermal and hydraulic properties to support passive climate strategies. Students will merge CNC workflows with direct material manipulation, fostering a feedback loop between design intent and physical outcome. The course covers technical instruction on the use of a ceramic printer and kiln management.