Often, especially in small villages (typical of Italy), in country houses or those adjacent to the town center, architectural solutions are chosen that include structural verandas supported by columns. These columns often have a structural purpose, as they are used to support a patio, a roof, or an overhanging terrace.
Whether they have a structural role or are purely decorative, the question arises of how to clad them, which material to use, and in what shape and size to achieve the best aesthetic result, especially in relation to the architectural context in which they are placed. A valid alternative is certainly cladding them with terracotta, and even better if it is handmade.
Terracotta Columns
After this initial distinction, which has a structural impact on the column, there are other equally important variables from an aesthetic perspective. We emphasize that, in our opinion, the cladding of a column should be able to enrich and beautify the entire architectural ensemble.
Referring to handmade terracotta (which is certainly the most commonly used and aesthetically richest option), and thus having the ability to personalize the bricks, the variables to consider are:
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Thickness: For both solid bricks and “L” shaped bricks, the thickness can range from 2 to 5 cm, and this is a choice that depends on the client.
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Color: More and more frequently, bricks with warm tones, ranging from yellow to soft pink, are used, as they blend well with any type of structure cladding, whether it’s with exposed stone or a painted finish.
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Finish: This refers to the surface appearance of the brick, the texture.
Presence of capitals: With handmade terracotta, it is possible to create capitals with special moldings that protrude from the column’s cladding and serve purely aesthetic purposes. Whether or not these capitals are included depends on the client’s preferences.
Fornace Bernasconi is able to produce both solid bricks and “L” shaped bricks (or corner bricks) for cladding columns, whether they are load-bearing or purely decorative. By crafting them by hand, they can customize the shape (length and width), thickness, color, and finish to fully meet the client’s requirements. In addition to the RAW finish (classic sandblasted), which is very beautiful for these types of interventions, the ARS VETUS (antiqued) finish is also an excellent choice. It replicates the characteristics of a well-worn brick: the surface is smooth to the touch, and the edges are rounded and worn, as if it were an antique brick.
