Architecture + Interior

Embedding The Soul in The Walls: TANAH Pottery Studio in Indonesia

Tanah Pottery Studio in Indonesia is made up of rammed earth walls that are mixed with the studio's very own crushed terracotta tiles.

July 18, 2023

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By 

Shan Arcega

Homes, spaces, structures, and almost everything a person owns, in general, are an extension of themselves (or at least shows what they’re most interested in). In architecture, it’s also especially important to constantly show the clients’ soul through their structure’s designs or at least through the materials used. For Tanah Pottery Studio in Ubud, Indonesia their soul literally makes up the walls.

The interiors reflect the simple exteriors with a minimalist design that puts more emphasis on the studio’s ceramic collection.
In Indonesian, “Tanah” means “Earth” and is expertly incorporated within the studio’s design.

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As their first pottery shop, the structure’s first goal was to capture the essence of their stoneware that’s 100% handmade. The architectural firm, Blancostudio aimed to tell Tanah Pottery Studio’s story by building the entire shop out of rammed earth which has also been mixed with the shop’s own leftover crushed terracotta tiles. Mixed in with the rammed earth, the tiles give the walls a pinkish color tone and a little more texture. The floor and ceiling meanwhile are mixed with iron oxide to imitate the wall’s pinkish hues and is made of limestone–a material that’s resistant to fire and heat and doesn’t emit smoke or any toxic substances under fire, making it the perfect material fit for a pottery studio. 

The warm and cozy interiors feature the studio’s latest ceramic collection, comfortable seating, and a small zen garden.
The rammed earth walls are also mixed with some of the studio’s crushed terracotta tiles.
The small zen garden gives the studio a bit of green.

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The roof is also held up by versatile and durable exposed Merbau beams working as an accent to the shop’s minimalist design. Aside from a tranquil zen garden, comfortable seating, and the shop’s latest ceramic collection. Combined, all these elements give the studio a serene look that reflects the peaceful vibes the art of pottery provides. 

Photos courtesy of Indra Wiras

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