For the first time, Tubes introduces terracotta into the design radiator

With Terre, Tubes introduces terracotta into the Elements collection for the first time, expanding its material research applied to the design radiator. The project also marks the company’s first collaboration with German designer Sebastian Herkner.

Designed by Herkner, Terre, Italian for “earth”, is an electric radiator that originates from the earth and pays homage to it already in its name. The project takes shape from a primordial and authentic material: a fine clay extracted exclusively from the Impruneta quarry, in the Tuscan Chianti area. A material deeply rooted in its territory, preserving unique characteristics, which here meets the technical know-how of Tubes.

Terracotta is not a finish but the constitutive material of the heating body. In the landscape of contemporary heating, the use of extruded terracotta represents a distinctive choice: while other applications use terracotta slabs as cladding, Terre is created through a material extrusion process, resulting in a fully structural element. The material is extracted, mixed with water, extruded through a mould specifically designed for the project, left to dry, fired at high temperatures, glazed and finally fired again.

Only at the end of this process does the final element take shape, enclosing within it a core of recycled and recyclable aluminum, developed and assembled in-house by Tubes, in which a 220/240-volt (500-watt) electric heating element is integrated. This is equipped with an 85°C safety thermostat that maintains a constant internal body temperature and helps optimize energy consumption.

The result is a heating element in which archaic material and contemporary technology coexist in perfect balance.

The glazed surface appears smooth and luminous, almost like a jewel, while at the same time revealing slight variations and micro-porosities that testify to the authenticity of the material. Each piece is different: the subtle irregularities are not imperfections but living traces of a natural process that makes every Terre unique. It is the material itself that speaks, transforming the radiator into a sculptural presence capable of engaging with the space.

The form is deliberately simple, vertical, and compact: 140 cm in height for a clear mark on the wall. Thanks to the presence of accessories, Terre can take on different configurations, adapting to various areas of the home.

In the version with shelf, the radiator naturally fits into living spaces or entryways, where the shelf becomes a practical catch-all tray or a surface for everyday small objects.