Grounds of Absorption | Bologna, Italy | Unit 21 | 2026

ABSORPTION is a flood-responsive ceramic production and research facility located within the Reno River floodplain near Bologna. Rather than resisting seasonal flooding, the project transforms water and sediment into productive resources. Floodwater is captured and filtered through a series of settling basins where mineral-rich sediments are collected and processed into clay bodies and glazes. These materials are then fired, archived, and exhibited, creating ceramic elements that record specific hydrological conditions.   The architecture establishes a cyclical relationship between landscape, production, and environmental change. Workshops, archives, and exhibition spaces are organised around the movement of water, making flood processes visible within everyday production. Flooding becomes both a material source and a temporal framework for manufacturing, while each ceramic tile acts as an archive of a particular flood event, embedding environmental data directly into architectural material.

Frontal Exterior Sectional View Foraged studio materials fed through a slit-scan tool built in TouchDesigner. The instrument samples pixels along a single line, pushing each frame to the left and interpolating colour values to produce continuous colour bands. The experiment tested how physical material surface translates into spatial colour data.

Plan, Section and Sectional Axonometric Views of the Project A video showcasing the project’s plan, section, and sectional axonometric views, revealing the spatial hierarchy, structural logic, and connections between the built form and its surrounding landscape.

Interior Renders Interior renderings showcasing the spatial qualities, materiality, and atmosphere of the project. The views depict the café, exhibition space, clay flattening room, clay working room, and shared public areas, highlighting the relationship between users, architectural elements, columns, and natural light.

Exterior Renders Exterior renderings illustrating the project’s relationship with the surrounding landscape.

Final Animation A final animated film presenting the project as a comprehensive architectural proposal.