How might a time-honored material like brick provide thermal comfort and temperature control as humans face the realities of climate change? That question is at the heart of an ambitious interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture. Laurin Aman, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Environmental Design, and George Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Ceramics, will debut an installation showcasing their research during Design Philadelphia at Temple University Center City (1515 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19102) October 1-12 (location pending final approval).

Launched in fall 2024, their research explores how regional clays, combined with computational thinking, can be used to create climate-specific architectural solutions. The project integrates emerging digital fabrication methods with traditional craft expertise.

“We’re tapping into vernacular knowledge, which is rooted in an intertwined relationship between local climate and local materials—how buildings were designed before HVAC systems,” Aman said. “At the same time, we’re incorporating new digital tools to design for the future.” According to researchers at Temple University’s Ambler Campus, Philadelphia’s climate is projected to shift significantly in the next 25 years, eventually resembling current conditions in South Carolina. That means not just higher temperatures, but more extreme weather events like droughts and flooding.

While most architectural 3D-printing projects rely on a pre-mixed, standard clay, Aman and Rodriguez saw an opportunity to experiment with customized clay bodies to achieve specific material behavior. They used sand and spent coffee grounds as temper in the clay bodies, and they selected a regional, widely available clay from Georgia to align with the climate conditions that Philadelphia is expected to face.

Aman and Rodriguez conducted 144 material tests, exploring different temper ratios and firing temperatures to ultimately evaluate water absorption, drainage, and retention. The duo developed a thick, modular brick system designed to passively regulate heat, drain water, and adapt to evolving environmental conditions. The installation on display at Design Philadelphia will showcase a cylindrical, open-air tower built without mortar. The bricks can be disassembled and reused in alternative configurations, demonstrating a vision of circular, sustainable architecture that can evolve over time.

Looking ahead, the team hopes to expand the project to include student involvement and additional design phases. The project will be on view again at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s main lobby from January 12, 2026, to February 7, 2026.

“This is just the beginning,” Rodriguez said. “We’re thinking not only about the aesthetic and functional qualities of the brick, but how structures like this could support communities in a changing climate—offering both shelter and adaptability.”