15 Tiles
15 Tiles San Antonio, Texas 5,800 SF 15 tiles lock together to create the geometric expression of a sensual mosaic form. The mosaic is the finished surface of a wall that divides the lobby from the auditorium at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas. Each of the 15 tiles is sculpted with subtle ripples conceptually generated from the water patterns in the San Antonio River that runs next to the site. The tiles were digitally designed and physically prototyped in Seattle, WA at the Architect’s office. During construction, the tiles were fabricated in Texas using the Architect’s digital model.
Overview
Early concept sketches exploring form, opening, and shadow.
Wall In Context: The wall face the main lobby of the performing arts center. The lobby marks the threshold of the new addtion to the historic structure.
Tiling Concept: The surface of the wall is created with repeating columns made up of 15 unique tiles. The tiled column is repeated along an arc to form the geometry of the wall.
Influence The design team took inspiration from the abundant textures within the city of San Antonio. Particular influence was derived from urban scale texture that adorns building facades.
Pattern & Texture The team studied numerous objects including Mexican pottery to analyze the affect of pattern and texture on curved surfaces. The most successful patterns were those that were nondirectional and reacted to changes in the object’s shape.
‘L’ Shaped Panels Instead of a typical rectangular tile the design team designed an ‘L’ shaped interlocking tile which creates a noncontinuous joint line. This allows the eye to focus on the sculpting of the tiles rather than the joints in between the tiles.
Remove portion of tile to create a ‘window’ into walkway beyond.
Rectangle tile shape
‘L’ tile shape
Preliminary Digital Study
Physical Models
Prototype The design team used a CNC router and 3d printer to make a 1/2” scale prototype.
Fabrication The tiles were fabricated in Texas directly from the design team’s digital model.
Digital Model Fabricated Panels
Full Scale Mock-up
Construction
Overview
Early concept sketches exploring form, opening, and shadow.
Wall In Context: The wall face the main lobby of the performing arts center. The lobby marks the threshold of the new addtion to the historic structure.
Tiling Concept: The surface of the wall is created with repeating columns made up of 15 unique tiles. The tiled column is repeated along an arc to form the geometry of the wall.
Influence The design team took inspiration from the abundant textures within the city of San Antonio. Particular influence was derived from urban scale texture that adorns building facades.
Pattern & Texture The team studied numerous objects including Mexican pottery to analyze the affect of pattern and texture on curved surfaces. The most successful patterns were those that were nondirectional and reacted to changes in the object’s shape.
‘L’ Shaped Panels Instead of a typical rectangular tile the design team designed an ‘L’ shaped interlocking tile which creates a noncontinuous joint line. This allows the eye to focus on the sculpting of the tiles rather than the joints in between the tiles.
Remove portion of tile to create a ‘window’ into walkway beyond.
Rectangle tile shape
‘L’ tile shape
Preliminary Digital Study
Physical Models
Prototype The design team used a CNC router and 3d printer to make a 1/2” scale prototype.
Fabrication The tiles were fabricated in Texas directly from the design team’s digital model.
Digital Model Fabricated Panels
Full Scale Mock-up
Construction
