World's First Robot-Made Ceramic Tiles Change Color With Sunlight - Yanko Design

"Picture a building wrapped in ceramic tiles, but not the flat, uniform squares you're used to. CeraShingle modules are 3D-printed clay shingles with intricate textures, delicate perforations, and color gradients that flow across the surface like watercolor on paper. Each piece measures roughly 400 by 130 millimeters and weighs just over a kilogram, light enough to handle but substantial enough to feel real."

"The magic happens in the making. Robotic arms deposit clay layer by layer, building up surface details that would be impossible with traditional molds. Think micro-ribs that catch shadows, patterns that emerge only at certain times of day, gentle curves that couldn't be pressed or cast. It's precision meets poetry. The parametric design workflow means each shingle can be unique while still fitting together on site, varying in thickness, texture, and shape within families of compatible parts."

"What strikes me most about CeraShingle is how it refuses the usual digital-versus-handmade debate. Instead of replacing the warmth of craft with cold precision, it uses computational tools to amplify what makes ceramics special. The robot doesn't erase the human touch; it extends what human hands can achieve. You get the intimacy of clay with possibilities that would make traditional ceramicists weep with joy."

CeraShingle is a façade system of 3D-printed clay shingles that combine intricate textures, delicate perforations, and watercolor-like color gradients. Each module measures roughly 400 by 130 millimeters and weighs just over a kilogram, allowing calculated overlaps to form a dynamic skin that shifts with sunlight and viewing angle. Robotic arms deposit clay layer by layer to produce micro-ribs, time-dependent patterns, and gentle curves impossible with traditional molds. A parametric workflow enables unique shingles to fit together on site. Computational tools amplify ceramic qualities and extend human craft, while additive deposition reduces material use and waste.

Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News