All great design is a combination of creativity, art, and function. The Casa Terracota fits all those criteria with its originality and implementation of quirky features.

Designed by Columbian architect Octavio Mendoza, Casa Terracota is located in Villa de Leyva, Colombia: just over 20 minutes from the town’s central plaza, yet worlds away from any other type of architecture. Made completely out of clay, the 5,400-square-foot structure is a reflection of the artist’s love for the surrounding landscape. The project was inspired by a conversation he had with his niece, when she planted the “what if” idea that eventually evolved into creating an entire home out of clay. Twenty years later, Mendoza refers to the structure as the largest piece of pottery in the world.
After planning out the design, he began sculpting the clay one section at a time, allowing the material to dry and harden naturally in the sun. After that, he baked the material to a hardened finish. This required building fires in each section and keeping them lit for days on end. The result is a home that challenges modern architecture to a competition in sustainable practices, artistry, and endurance.
Crafted from the natural elements of wind, fire, water, and earth, Casa Terracota is the ultimate form of sustainable architecture. In addition to being completely organic, it’s also completely fireproof. That means it’s a nearly indestructible solution to areas susceptible...