en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swiss designers have developed a 3D-printed terracotta brick named bloc°, designed to mitigate the urban heat island effect through evaporative cooling. The project was developed by Andrin Stocker and Luc Schweizer, students at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), and has been reported and recognized by the university and the 2025 James Dyson Award.
The urban heat island effect occurs when asphalt, concrete, and dark-colored facades absorb solar radiation during the day and slowly release heat at night, causing persistently high urban temperatures. Addressing this challenge, the bloc° project draws inspiration from cooling techniques used for millennia by Egyptian, Babylonian, and Mesopotamian civilizations. Its core concept is not to create a new type of urban air conditioner, but to rethink the role of public amenities during heatwaves.
The working principle of bloc° is based on evaporative cooling. Terracotta, as a porous material, can absorb and retain water. When hot air passes over the moist terracotta surface, the water evaporates and absorbs heat from the environment, consistent with the principle that traditional adobe buildings are more comfortable in hot climates. The design modernizes this ancient logic through 3D printing, modular construction, and solar-powered small fans. After the porous ceramic bricks absorb water, hot air is drawn through a system driven by solar-powered fans, and the evaporation of water produces a cooler airflow.
According to a report by National Geographic España, under specific climatic conditions, bloc° can reduce local temperatures by up to 9 degrees Celsius. This cooling effect is intended to create small-scale thermal relief zones in public spaces such as bus stops, squares, parks, schoolyards, or pedestrian areas, rather than cooling the entire city.
During development, Stocker and Schweizer tested different ceramic compositions, physical prototypes, and digital simulations, analyzing water absorption rates, durability, and airflow behavior, ultimately confirming that terracotta can maintain structural stability while providing the porosity needed for cooling. National Geographic España also noted that the project drew inspiration from the ability of cacti to withstand sun exposure and adapt to extreme conditions. bloc° is not intended to replace traditional air conditioning systems, but rather serves as a complementary urban design tool that integrates tradition, nature, and contemporary technology.
The project is currently still in an experimental phase, and its leaders plan to test full-scale prototypes to verify the system's response to wind, humidity, high-intensity use, and wear in public spaces. Evaporative cooling is more effective in dry climates, so the effectiveness of bloc° will depend on climatic conditions, installation design, and the specific urban environment. The project offers a passive solution based on natural materials, water, shade, and ventilation, which can complement necessary measures such as planting trees, reducing dark surfaces, and creating green corridors, helping cities become more livable during extreme heat events.
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