Architectural Sculpture

This small architectural sculpture depicts a Yemenite house with a Mikveh (Jewish ritual purification pool) on the roof. It’s an imaginative piece based on the architecture of Yemen, as well as the aesthetic of mud brick construction in general. Measuring about 12cm high, it is of fired clay, with a coloured glass inlay, and white engobe decoration.

Earth, Fire and Water

I really enjoy working with the roughness of the clay, fully aware that this is a true elemental material. Later the firing process transforms it into a durable and hard ceramic which can last thousands of years. In these photos you can see how it recalls the exact texture and colour of mud bricks. It’s basically the same material. This house truly combines the elements of Earth (clay), Fire (through the firing process) and Water (the Mikveh).

I’ll soon be creating more pieces in this style, and am happy to make work specially to order, so do get in touch if this sounds interesting to you.

Architectural Sculpture: Ancient Mikveh House in Sanaa — This is the front of the house. A staircase leads immediately up and into the mysterious body of the structure.

Ceramic sculpture of Yemenite house with ritual pool — This is the roof with the Mikveh. Only pure rainwater or a natural flowing source is suitable for use in the Mikveh, which is built according to precise parameters given in the Torah and rabbinic literature. A turquoise glaze underlies a layer of clear melted glass, to give the effect of the water.

Yemenite house sculpture in clay — Side view with small decorated window. Small windows help keep the house cool in summer, and warm in winter.

The rear of the house. In my imagination, this side faces the side of a cliff or mountain, so there is no need for windows. It really was the back of the house, rugged and weather-worn like the cliff-face.

You can read more about the mud brick architecture of Sanaa in this BBC article.

And at the other end of the spectrum, Dezeen magazine showcases a project about a house that is 3D-printed using mud reinforced with other natural materials.