#TerraCotta September 4

by Coach4aday · September 4, 2026

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August 2026 several of us are going to take on the 30-Day Architectural Coach4aday Challenge each day, we will define an architectural term and provide examples of where it is located. This challenge will let observation, travel, history, and photography all intersect. For Day 4 it is TERRA COTTA.

My wife and I go on trips for extended periods of time to different parts of the United States. In 2023 we spent almost 10 days exploring Iowa and Wisconsin. The last two days of our adventure included time admiring Milwaukee where I got to view the Pabst Mansion. That home was decorated with lots of Terra Cotta Ornamentations.

30-Day Architectural Challenge Guidelines

If you have ever watched Seinfeld, you know that George Constanza always wanted to pretend to be an architect.

Well, this month’s challenge let’s all of us that are not architects learn a little more about their language. To do that we have a simple challenge.

Every day we’ll learn one architectural term. Your challenge is to find an example—preferably one you’ve actually seen—and share a photograph, location and brief explanation.

Day 4-Terra Cotta

The Pabst Mansion was constructed between 1890-1893. If you look at the exterior of the home you will see the gables, porches, porte-cochère and other areas are covered with elaborate terra-cotta scrollwork, floral designs and decorative motifs.