CoolClay

CoolClay is an Evaporative Cooling System made of clay using 3D printing technology. Passive cooling is a prehistoric technology that can reframe modern comfort. For thousands of years, architecture relied on porous materials and evaporation to manage heat, but today, we have largely traded that efficiency for standardized HVAC units that consume massive amounts of energy. Throughout this year, I have focused on these ancient methods by applying modern technical fabrication. The first phase of this research involved the technical challenge of building a custom clay 3D printer. By repurposing a standard plastic-extrusion XL Delta printer and modifying its hardware and firmware, I developed a specialized extrusion system tailored for ceramic materials. This process was about reclaiming the act of making through resourcefulness, allowing for a deeper level of control over the material’s behavior and the final design.

The main goal of CoolClay is to prove that passive cooling is a viable alternative to mechanical climate control. By 3D printing low-fired, porous clay, I have created geometries specifically engineered to maximize surface area and airflow, allowing the material to naturally regulate indoor temperature and humidity. This project positions the fabrication process as an extension of environmental design: the tool, material, and performance work together as an integrated system.