Terracoola ambient — [makeshift][johannroy]

CONTEXT

With Bangalore city’s summers getting hotter during 2024, many people were finding ways to beat the heat: pouring water on the floor overnight, taking multiple cold showers during the day, closing curtains throughout the afternoon. Many people ended up buying air conditioners, which in turn made the external temperature warmer. Inspired by the Matka [terracotta water coolers] at home, I began my research into the Matka’s properties of cooling water.

During the process of making I found a newfound appreciation of getting hands on with an activity—which translated into how these structures are to be engaged with— manually without automation, almost ritualistic in nature.

RESEARCH

early primary research

SKILLS/PROCESS

slip-cast moulding
mould making
handbuilding

RESOURCE

StudioAnt’s Bee-hive cooler

Wyss Institute Harvard- cSNAP

NAVE by Yael Issacharov

[projects that both informed and aided in executing this project]

December//2023<—>February//2025

:Exploration into alternate ways of cooling DERIVED from heritage Indian practices

Terracoola[ambient]

terracoola, a two part project [ambient and contact], is an exploration into alternate manners of cooling using Terracotta.

the ambient series was created as a response to the sudden increase in temperature within Bengaluru— specifically for temperature regulation within households.

terracotta’s properties of cooling water through latent heat of vaporisation allows 1.the structure 2.the water and 3.the surrounding ambient region to reduce in temperature.

Construction
& Structure

after previous iterations—two key requirements were established: to hold water and to facilitate airflow.

inspired by wind ventilation and courtyard cooling techniques within architecture, the current modular form allows for the identical pieces to vertically stack on top of each other.

the final iteration was created during my time at the Royal College of Art incorporating mould-making and slip-casting as the key methods of construction.

Application

through stacking each individual structure[using wooden pillars] the wind is directed through to a cold-zone that is formed between the spaces of the structures.

the structure is to be kept beside a window sill or balcony—allowing the hot air to pass through and reduce the air temperature before entering the interior space.

Guys I’m an em dash enthusiast—please don’t think I use ChatGPT.
[makeshift]johannroy