SAL School of Architecture, Ahmadabad.

Clay workshop
18-19-20th nov.2015
Semester l, Studio-l(Div. A-B)

Conducted by : Jinal Patel (Artist, Ahmedabad)

Bachelors in visual arts, major in sculpture, Faculty of fine arts, M.S. university, Baroda.
Masters in art design and Communications, Faculty of arts and humanities, Cept university, Ahmadabad.

Clay (mud) in Architecture

Architecture involves use of various different construction materials that require a unique construction technique. But most of these construction
techniques are energy intensive techniques. Mud construction system is less energy intensive and very effective in different climatic conditions.
Earth (clay) is one of man's oldest building materials and most ancient civilizations used it in some form. It was easily available, cheap, and
strong and required only simple technology. In Egypt the grain stores of Ramasseum built in adobe in 1300BC still exist. the Great Wall of China
has sections built in rammed earth over 2000 years ago. Iran, India, Nepal, Yemen all have examples of ancient cities and large buildings built in
various forms of earthen construction. It is significant that the oldest surviving examples of this building form are in the most arid areas of the
world.
Man has always built with natural materials, building with mud/earth; the most natural of all building materials poses a special challenge.
Architecture today is discriminated by cold hard, machine made building materials. While all previous attempts to replace these with a more
plastic, environmental friendly material have resulted in a region of the structural of technical dimension of the architecture, building with mud
offers unique possibility of a synthesis. As an exploration into the possibilities of mud as building material is especially relevant in country like
India.

Clay (mud) as a building material

Clay is one of the oldest building materials on Earth, among other ancient, naturally-occurring geologic materials such as stone and organic
materials like wood. Between one-half and two-thirds of the world's population, in traditional societies as well as developed countries, still live or
work in a building made with clay as an essential part of its load-bearing structure. Also a primary ingredient in many natural building techniques,
clay is used to create adobe , cob, cordwood, and rammed earth structures and building elements such as wattle and daub, clay plaster, clay
render case, clay floors and clay paints and ceramic building material. Clay was used as a mortar in brick chimneys and stone walls where
protected from water.

Clay as a modeling material

The most easily recognized form of sculpting is clay modeling, that is, the creation of a 3-dimensional piece of art typically using some type of
clay: Plastilina (oil-based clay also known as plasteline, plasticium, plasticine), self-hardening (non-firing) clay, ceramic/pottery clay, wax or other
polymer-based material. Clay is highly versatile, extremely easy to work with, and the ideal modeling material for the beginner as well as the
seasoned sculptor. With nothing more than a block of clay, the artist can begin his journey of creativity. Your choice of material is a very personal
one - based upon feel, texture, and hardness of the material, and possible required reproduction of the finished piece.
In addition to the materials selected, the artist also uses modeling tools to manipulate the material into the shape desired. These sculpting tools
come in various shapes, sizes and styles and are used to cut, scrape or shape the modeling material to create a specific effect. They are usually
produced from carbon steel, stainless steel, wood, and plastic.
Sculptors often turn to using armatures, and modeling stands, to assist them during the sculpting process. Armatures, internal support structures
often constructed from aluminum, help in building your clay model which may not support their own weight. Modeling stands are a type of work
table which can be moved around the studio and raised and lowered for optimum use.

Aim of this clay workshop was to give hands on experience of clay modeling through different tools and techniques. it also helped students
to understand architectural spaces, scale, proportion and sculpting through modeling.

Stages

: Introduction of material
Setting workplace
Preparation of clay
Design (on paper)
Modeling (base work and detailing)
Finishing and documentation (photography)

Setting Workplace and Preparing Clay

Designing and Model making

Designing and Model making

Finishing and Photographic Documentation

Finishing and Photographic Documentation