Building Blue begins with the hypothesis that fire, commonly seen as a destructive force, might also be constructive.

 

Fire is a reaction that ignites around 800°C, a threshold at which many chemical transformations occur. Exploring this range led me to an ancient Egyptian technique known as Egyptian faience, a clay-based mixture with copper(II) hydroxide. When heated to 800-1000°C the material undergoes a chemical reaction that produces a self-glazing surface which turns a striking blue.

 

By applying the logic of a primitive clay oven and burning a haystack with this material layered on top I created a spatial experience in the form of a dome, its interior transformed through fire into a luminous blue surface where destruction gives way to creation.