Touch, Texture and Tactility: Clayworks

Are we losing touch with touch? Through the pandemic especially, we were desperately short on the textures, warmth, and imperfections that come from engaging with things in the tangible world — handcrafts, textiles, building materials, and each other.

This notion has driven a move towards tactility. We are seeing it everywhere, from architecture to fashion. It is this world of artisanry we crave. The need for the imperfect.

At PW every day is a school day when it comes to materials. Our library is like a treasure trove full of innovative, sustainable, and interesting materials all of which delight our sense of touch. Texture is crucial to us and our clients; as creating visual and tactile interest is after all, what builds our connection with the environment.

Claywork’s Sample Library

So now is the time to embrace a more natural way of life through interior design and for me, there is no better all-rounder than Clayworks render. It, for sure, is the sample in our library that gets the most attention. Clients are drawn to its richness of colour and that all desired texture.

Clayworks was born from a love of nature and a belief in natural, sustainable building practices. Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce, the founders, travelled the world to learn about the traditions of clay as a building material, while running a small company in Cornwall specialising in cob, wood, stone, clay and lime. Their vision was to explore the use of architectural materials in architecture, particularly earth, as mediums to foster a balance in building that is healthy for the environment and the user, while beautiful in its design. While looking for integrity and performance foremost, Adam and Katy also saw the capacity of natural materials to affect the way we experience the spaces we inhabit.

Traditional clay building construction

The classic clay plaster finishes comprise of texture, tonal variation, depth, and thickness, from Tonal to Smooth and Demi Rustic to Rustic. It lends itself to interiors where eco credentials are paramount which seamlessly reflects our company’s ethos.

The organic nature in which you can use the material makes it super flexible and exciting to work with. Clayworks range of custom finishes epitomise the art of the possible through its extraordinary versatility. Allowing its user, almost complete design freedom to push the materiality of clay plaster and its textural properties in achieving completely new and unique effects.

At PW we feel that this material brings to life our most neglected sense, which may remind us to ‘get back into touch’.