The residency unfolded as an exploration of how local resources and inherited
knowledge can inform new approaches to making. Initiating the project in the
countryside bordering Nicosia, the process involved sourcing materials directly from
the environment, salvaged firebricks from former kiln sites, stones from the terrain, and
soils of varying texture and mineral composition. When it became clear that the supply
of recycled firebricks was limited, the design evolved into a hybrid system capable of
reaching high temperatures through the combination of refractory materials and
earthen construction. This adaptation reinforced the project’s guiding idea: that
tradition and innovation can coexist within the same material logic.

Construction began with the excavation of a circular foundation trench, reinforced with
stones gathered from the surrounding land. A gravel layer was added for stability, and a
clay-rich mortar made from local soil bound the structure together, creating a closed
material loop in which the ground itself became both source and structure. From this
base, the kiln gradually took form: a dense thermal chamber composed of reused
firebricks and castable earth used for reinforcing the door opening. The dome was cast
in a refractory mix that also functioned as the chimney draw, and the exterior was
finished with layers of local soil, visually anchoring the kiln within its landscape.
Throughout the residency, each stage of building became a process of discovery for TS.
Kaupo shared experienced knowledge on the technical aspects of the brickwork,
alignment, and refractory performance. With Kaupo’s guidance Threading Stories
concentrated on understanding the broader parameters of material behavior,
shrinkage, insulation, and the relationship between structure and soil. Every variable
became part of a dynamic design dialogue. The resulting kiln unites earth, stone, and
firebrick into a cohesive thermal body, achieving both structural integrity and energy
efficiency. Beyond technical achievement, the project revealed kiln building as an act of
listening: to materials, to place, and to each other.

Collaboration lay at the heart of the process. The kiln was co-designed and built
through shared expertise, collective decision-making, and continuous adaptation.
Traditional knowledge guided the form and layout, while technical understanding
refined airflow and firing efficiency. The outcome is a structure that bridges ancestral
making methods with contemporary ecological thinking, demonstrating how craft can
embody both heritage and experimentation.

Now standing within the Threading Stories site, the kiln serves as a permanent research
and community tool. It will support future workshops, collective firings, and visiting
artists, becoming a space where making and learning continue to unfold together. The
first firing, planned for the next phase, will test the kiln’s performance and generate
data on heat distribution, fuel use, and smoke behaviour. Documentation from the
project, including material analyses, design drawings, and construction notes will be
shared to contribute to broader discussions on sustainable craft and material culture.
As a living structure, the kiln will evolve with time and use, standing as a testament to
care, collaboration, and the creative potential of working directly with the earth.