Terra Cotta: Glazed Architecture and the Characteristics as a Building Material

For the past century, Chicago face view rose, and at one point it was changed by the architectural design which depended on the Terra Glazed Cotta Blocks, commercial buildings, neighborhood apartments, and the downtown office structures was the odd of the Chicago architecture.  Basically, in the Michigan Avenue, the Reliance Building, the Wrigley Building is one of the amazing buildings which are quite inspirational and motivating when it comes to the application of Terra Cotta. With the master structure recognized as The Railway Exchange Building, which is built by the use of Terra glazed cotta blocks, Chicago has never been the same; this is one of the wildly different in scale building which is striking in its architectural sumptuousness. Railway Exchange Building has attracted engineers, architectures and motivated different individuals all over the world to adopt Terra glazed Cotta as one of the unique material to be used in construction. Railway exchange building has played an important role and has played a significant function of being part of what is making Chicago to be recognized as one of the best cities for architecture, the city which standing with unique details which are not adopted in the current building structures. Ideally, what is making Chicago be the center of attraction is the use of cotta exteriors which most cities have not been lucky to adopt as a result of the new technological development in the construction industry which involves the use of new materials.

Focusing on the Railway Exchange Building designed by Daniel Burnham Building features, Chicago Architecture Foundation is proud to showcase and offer the art and architectural world which is recognized to be Railway Exchange Building. The Daniel Burnham structure features beautiful glazed terra cotta blocks, a light court and one of the breathtaking grand staircases. Historically, it is noted that Burnham was able to produce the plan of Chicago in the year 1909; all this took place when he was in the building. Being that Chicago Architecture is one of the recognized nonprofit making organizations which is dedicated to inspiring individuals and various groups to make the discovery why design is significant.

With Terracotta block being identified as the high grade of the aged and the weathered clay which when brought together through mixing with pulverized fired clay and sand is designed, fired and molded to clay block or brick. The process of firing and molding of the mixed material can bring out one of the strongest material which has been used to raised one of the best memorial buildings and architectural structures. Ideally, when the idea of terra cotta started it was being referred to as the cooked earth, and it varied more so in color depending on different types and the nature of geography, ranging from various colors such as white, brown, white and even read. Additionally, in the past, Terra Cotta was usually hollow cast designed in blocks and was opened to the back like, just like boxes, since it was composed of internal compartment, which was the same as stiffeners known as webbing. The webbing in this case substantially gives strength to the capacity of the load bearing capacity of the terra-cotta hollow block without seriously increasing its weight.

In the design, the block of Terra Cotta was most of the time finished with a glaze that was clay wash and the slip glaze or even a solution of the metal salts which is aqueous of metal salt and was sprayed and brushed before the process of firing was subjected to the block. Glazing was able to bring a big difference to the when it comes to the color through bringing out surface on the weathered face of the final product which is a relatively an impervious surface. What was unique in the face of Terra Cotta is the block in its nature, owned perfect weathering properties when it was maintained in a proper manner. Ideally, it provided the hard surface with vibrant color which was not chipped off quickly, and all it provided was a faded resistance colors and unlimited design options which were beautiful and unique in its nature. When the comparison is made with the todays building, we find out that few building materials can beat or even match the uniqueness of Terra Cotta, for its strength, the strength, the range and more significantly the durability which is associated with the colors of the Terra Cotta.

In history, Terracotta was one of the most complex materials in the construction of Terra Cotta as one of the unique building material that was existing in the country. The Hollow units were designed in carved and molds in clay and was seriously glazed and the imitation of stone was brought out in the design after that the whole material was fired. Terra cotta was also recognized as the architectural ceramics, and the material was refined and developed in the through the first third of the twentieth century. Considering the social impact and the motivation brought by Terra Cotta, some of the architectures which are closely related to the Terracotta designs include Louis Sullivan, Daniel H.Burnham, Cass Gilbert and many other designers and structures. Some of the great players and Examples of this material include the Wrigley building strategically located in Chicago. The Woolworth building in the year 1913, which is based in New York City and finally our primary focus being The Railway Exchange Building which is a stand out on the Michigan street wall Avenue which is a white facade gleaming structure, with the building possessing a serious aspect when it comes to defining the status and the history as the different center when it comes to the architectural innovation.

Being that Chicago for an extended period of time being an important railroad center, starting with the Chicago and Galena Union Railroad that was established in the period of 1848.The rapid increase in population was experienced as a result of the current demand and the place expanded to six passengers terminal downtown which created employment to over fifteen thousand individuals who were working on the railroads. Due to the demand to manage the increasing population of workers, this employee actually and the growing number of administrators, required affordable places and offices space to manage their jobs.

Through an act of planning to bring a solution to the growing population of the stations, motivated the Santa Fe Railway to approach the famous architecture firm of D. H Burnham, so us to offer the solution to the problem that demanded the quick answer as to manage the population effectively. As a result of negotiation and the separate agreement that was to be considered, the solution that was offered was a proposed new Railway Exchange Building that would be shared by several other railroads and the Santa Fe. Given the popularity and the uniqueness offer that most individuals trusted the Burnham designs, being recognized for one of the best design in the Worlds Columbian Exposition just some years before, through the design, a lot of Roman inspiration in the classical architectural style of architecture has been sold and even inspired in Chicago. The glazed white terra cotta of the Railway Exchange can echo the famous white city. Comparing the Railway Exchange building and the famous tall office building which are existing, the building which is viewed to have brought solutions to serious challenges especially when it comes to creating space to accommodate the increasing number of employees that were working around and for the railway employees. Just like many other office building which is existing of the time, Railway Exchange building is vertically developed and organized in with a heavy base which is an ornate capital and a repeating shaft just like a column.

What is unique is that Burnham, working along with one of the chief designer, that is Fredrick Dinkeberg innovatively, went an extra mile when it comes to bringing air and light inside the building with the whole structure being wrapped like a square doughnut and a central light wrapped as well through one of the glass atria hence, able to cap the grand two story lobby. In the design of the structure, the skeleton frame which is more of a steel provided allowance to the projecting bays and windows to bring an increase in the amount of light that was streaming inside the building hence creating one of the best visual interest when it comes to the facade of the building which is unique and understanding element. What was unique, was that immediately the structure was done, Burnham didnt miss the chance of promoting its work, he was able to bring in its firm into the building immediately the whole process was complete, making his offices to bring out commanding views of Lake Michigan and the Michigan. On the other hand, the railroad corporation, who were the main reason for the existence and the design of the building, were able to move out of the building. Ideally, what is unique is that in the current today, the different number of architectural firms not leaving out the central Chicago Architecture Foundation is identifying the building to be home.

The American Terra Cotta having their sales office on Railway Exchange Building which is conveniently close to Chicago north have contributed so much to the development so much to the economy of the state since Railway Exchange Building is one of the unique building that has been built by the use of Terra Glazed Cotta Blocks. The building itself has been in the past used to show how well a building can look good through the use of Terra Cotta when its application. With the sales office of the Terra Cota blocks, located in the same building, it is amazing how the same building has a played an integral role when it comes to promoting and selling of Terra Cotta products. Terra Glazed Cotta Blocks is identified to change the face view of Chicago Architecture since it has been recognized to be one of the best imitations of stone which is a natural object. In Chicago, the commercial buildings, neighborhood apartment and some of the office structure in the downtown of Chicago have glazed terra cotta which is recognized to be one of the prominent features when it comes to the rise and turn of the century of Chicago architecture.

On the other hand, in the latter half of the 19th century, the dangerous fires that were prone in the cities of America moved the same with technological development to promote the application of baked earthed when it comes to the design of the urban design. Technically, after the serious fire in the year 1871 which took...