Kolumba™

HANDMADE TILE

Kolumba™ is manufactured according to centuries-old craftsmanship traditions. Kolumba™ is made of various clay types that can withstand extremely high firing temperatures. Once the clay has been processed, it is hand-moulded in wooden moulds followed by drying and firing. Varying temperatures during firing give the bricks their diverse textures and beautiful shades. All bricks get individual characteristics by the moulder’s thumb when he or she presses the brick out of the mould.

Kolumba™ comes in the standard format 528 x 108 x 37 mm, but can also be delivered in custom sizes. We also strive to meet all requests for customised colours or surfaces.

Kolumba™ was developed in 2000 in cooperation between Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and Petersen Tegl for the Kolumba Museum in Cologne, Germany. Today, Kolumba™ bricks are used in buildings all over the world.

BRICKS AND FROST

Petersen Tegl's bricks are frost resistant. We primarily use clay from the brickworks' local surroundings where clay has been dug for brick production for several hundred years.

At the brickworks, the clay is pugged, moulded and pressed using techniques which emulate the processing method used when all work was done by hand.

The method gives the best possible texture with capillaries and air voids that allow the water to expand when it freezes without damaging the brick. The fact that bricks can absorb water does therefore not involve a risk of frost damage.

See the frost and brick information sheet DOWNLOAD >

The colours are indicative only.