# Thermally Efficient Tile Prototypes Flemming Tvede Hansen & Isak Worre Foged Debut Therma Testa By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-05-17 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/therma-testa References: [royaldanishacademy](https://royaldanishacademy.com/en/case/therma-testa-1) Flemming Tvede Hansen and Isak Worre Foged presented Therma Testa at the Royal Danish Academy's ‘Imagining Futures through Architecture and Design’ exhibition. This project studies how ceramic tiles could serve as thermally active membranes that store and pass on heat from bathrooms to adjoining rooms without transferring moisture. Flemming Tvede Hansen and Isak Worre Foged used simulations and experiments to combine raw red clay and azurite in an uncompromising form that unites function and aesthetics. At its core, Therma Testa proposes an alternative to the standard approach to heating homes, which treats tiles and walls as passive barriers. Instead, the tile prototype assumes an active role by absorbing excess heat and moisture in a bathroom after a hot shower, then slowly releasing that stored warmth into an adjoining bedroom or living space when the temperature drops. This may reduce the need for a separate heating system and the energy they consume. Image Credit: Flemming Tvede Hansen ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 76% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Thermal Active Surfaces:** Tiles and wall finishes that store and slowly release heat create potential for building envelopes to function as distributed thermal batteries, reducing reliance on central heating. - **Hygro-thermal Building Materials:** Materials engineered to decouple moisture transfer from heat storage suggest new product categories that balance indoor humidity control with passive thermal regulation. - **Integrated Passive Heating Systems:** Architectural components designed to capture excess bath heat and redistribute it across adjacent rooms indicate a shift toward decentralized, low-energy heating strategies. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Residential Construction:** Homebuilding paradigms that incorporate thermally active finishes imply reconfigured HVAC sizing and spatial planning to prioritize passive warmth redistribution. - **Ceramic Manufacturing:** Clay-based producers adapting composition and surface treatments for enhanced heat capacity point to a premium segment where aesthetics and thermal performance are co-developed. - **HVAC and Energy Management:** Service models oriented around integration with passive thermal materials highlight possibilities for system downsizing, new efficiency metrics, and altered maintenance cycles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Passive Cooling Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/celcius.md) - [Ceramic Tile Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artek-heath.md) - [Contemporary Terracotta Tiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cottomilano.md) - [Renovated Residential Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/th-residence.md) - [Modular Tile Server Racks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sophia-space.md) - [Modern Design-Forward Tile Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tile-of-spain.md) - [Architectural Ceramic Surfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-nesting-room.md) - [Earthen Workshop Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haniyasu-house.md) - [Fabric Heating Concept](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moritz-walter.md)