templatteja

Templatteja are modular architectural elements consisting of wall or façade plates designed to regulate temperature and provide decorative surfaces. The concept appears in speculative design and in discussions of energy-efficient façades, where individual plates function as thermally active units within a cladding system.

The word templatteja combines tem- from temperature with plateja, a plural form resembling the word plate in several European languages. The term is used to describe a family of panels rather than a single standard product.

Design and materials: Plates are typically square or rectangular, 300 to 600 mm in side length, and can be ceramic, glass-ceramic, porcelain, or composite materials. Many implementations include a phase-change material or a thermochromic glaze to modulate heat storage and surface appearance with temperature, while some rely on conventional thermal mass.

Installation and function: Templatteja are installed in grid-like facades with concealed fasteners and gaskets. They act as thermally active surface elements, absorbing heat during warm periods and releasing it when temperatures drop, thereby contributing to passive heating or cooling of the building and helping smooth temperature fluctuations. Aesthetically, they can be finished with textures and colors that respond to light or temperature.

Applications and variants: Used in experimental architecture, public installations, and energy-efficient renovations. Variants include frost-resistant formulations, translucent panels, and panels with variable facet geometries for light diffusion. See also dynamic façades and phase-change materials.