Hispalyt promotes professorship "Ceramics to build"

The Spanish Association of manufacturers of bricks and tiles from clay cooked (Hispalyt) has launched the Chair "Ceramics for building" with the aim of deepening the knowledge of the use of ceramic materials in a matter of project. With this initiative, the Association provides a tool for future professionals get the most out of the technical and aesthetic possibilities of structural ceramics in architecture.

The Chair will be directed by José Ignacio Linazasoro, architect with a long professional career, and great connoisseur of the ceramic building materials. "Ceramics to build" will be held at the technical Superior School of architecture - ETSAM, under the collaboration agreement signed by Hisplayt with the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

The activities to be developed, include the Organization of conferences related to the use of ceramic materials in the architectural project to promote the exchange of experiences with the students, with the participation of well-known architects; the convening of an annual competition, in order to reward projects both students and architects in their first two years of graduation; and the completion of an annual publication with the participation of prominent architects whose purpose shall be to publicize the activities of the Chair and the award-winning projects. In the field of scientific and technical disclosure, the Chair will have a web site to disseminate the activities carried out as well as the content of most interest. The Chair is committed to act on the Spanish territory, with the collaboration of other schools of architecture.

The project "Ceramics for building" addresses one of the highest aspirations of Hisplayt, the academic treatment of the projection with ceramic construction systems. Despite the interest detected among students of architecture, ceramics has received until now a rather historic, conventional treatment. Thanks to this initiative and the participation of the Etsam, students will know first hand the reality of the sector of structural ceramics, an industry in continuous transformation, with numerous technical innovations in the market and the confidence of the architectural profession in its natural properties and its benefits.

Regardless of this project, Hispalyt organizes, in addition, two awards of architecture on a biennial basis: the brick Architecture Prize and the prize of architecture with Termoarcilla, with the aim to present emblematic works and structural ceramic products. The Association groups more than 300 companies Spanish that employs 12,500 people, with a turnover of 1,260 million euros in 2005, being the industry with greater productive capacity of Europe in its sector.