Masonry Magazine August 1985 Page. 6
Figure 4
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 5
TERRA COTTA
Terra cotta has advantages over stone. Figures 2 and 3 (see previous page) show ornamental building detail constructed of terra cotta. With terra cotta a mold is made, therefore, the detail is reproducible on an economic basis. The material is stronger than concrete or brick. As a weather resisting material, architectural terra cotta is very superior. The material has a low water absorption rate, whether glazed or unglazed. Another advantage is that terra cotta can be glazed with any color desired so that a great variety of tint can be achieved.
Terra cotta is again taking on importance as a building material. Existing terra cotta buildings, which exhibit the richness of detail and color, are prime structures for renovation. And with the design trend in architecture moving to more color, texture and ornamentation, terra cotta is being used on new projects.
# Architectural Terra Cotta Is Fired Clay
Terra cotta literally means baked earth. Architectural terra cotta, hereafter referred to as terra cotta, refers to a building cladding utilizing a clay block design. Terra cotta is a blend of four different clays (ball, marl, fireclay and grog). It typically was manufactured in Ashlar sizes 24 inches by 18 inches.
Initially, the material was produced to imitate the appearance of natural stone materials. For instance, a deep red unglazed terra cotta simulated brownstone or a gray speckled finish was used to simulate granite. In fact, in many of the highrise buildings built from 1910 to 1930, natural stone was used on the first few floors and then terra cotta was used on the remaining floors. See Figures 4, 5 and 6 which typify some standard uses of terra cotta during this time period.
Terra cotta emerged on building exteriors only in the 1850s, decades behind its decorative use in Europe, when the Queen Anne Style called for earth-colored masonry reliefs set into brick or stone. After the Chicago fire the use of the material was expanded to a total cladding material. So adaptable was the material to every nuance of color, texture and modeling, the use of terra cotta spread rapidly throughout the United States in the period from