Evapo Breathing Ceramic Skin: aesthetic and performative ceramic tiles

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Evapo is a system of parametric performance-based ceramic tiles designed as a building skin to improve thermal performance. The process combines traditional slip cast ceramic moulding processes with parametric modelling and CNC machining technologies in the design and mould making phases. The skin would be applied to a conventional building structure in the same way as existing tiling but the 3-dimensional form of the tile allows for greatly increased thermal advantages. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: The project contributes to two interrelated areas of design research: (1) the development of building skins in architecture; and (2) the relationship between new technologies and traditional craft processes in Industrial Design. It demonstrates the intersection of Latifi and Glover's research interests: Latifi investigates using parametric modelling to design, manipulate and create the skin surfaces for built environment applications, and Glover's background in Industrial Design and ceramics looks at how these designs can be developed into modular product systems utilising both traditional and contemporary manufacturing processes for possible industry applications. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE Evapo was selected for exhibition at the prestigious Craft ACT, a nationally-recognised venue for craft and design in Australia, in the Embracing Innovation Volume 5 exhibition.The fifth installment of the annual exhibition series showcased trans-disciplinary research, innovation and digital technologies, with a particular focus on practice-led design research. It responds to the changing way makers engage, design and create in their practice. The work was exhibited alongside prominent international researchers, designers and artists. The exhibition was accompanied by a critical catalogue essay by Dr Susan Otsling, and was reviewed in Fairfax Media.