Grain Silo Conversion by Giles Cadle | Kaji Border Oat Japanese Porcelain Tiles
The Grain Silo Conversion at Sheepdrove Organic Farm by architect Giles Cadle combines Kaji Border Oat Japanese porcelain tiles with warm timber interiors to create a quiet and tactile rural retreat within converted agricultural silos.
Project Information
Project: Grain Silo Conversion
Location: Sheepdrove Organic Farm, Lambourn, United Kingdom
Architect: Giles Cadle
Supplier: Mittsu Japanese Tiles
Tile Collection: Kaji Border
Colour: Oat
Country of Manufacture: Japan
Material: Porcelain
Water Absorption: 0.02–0.07%
Surface: Textured gloss glaze
Application: Interior wall finish
Technical Data Sheet: Kaji Border
CAD Data: Kaji Border
Mittsu Image Folder: Kaji Border
Kaji Border at the Grain Silo Conversion
Originally constructed as agricultural grain silos, the structures were converted into compact accommodation with a restrained material palette centred around timber, natural light and glazed Japanese ceramic.
Kaji Border in Oat is used throughout the bathroom interiors, where the elongated format introduces a precise vertical rhythm that complements the curved geometry of the cylindrical structure. The fine linear proportions reinforce the height of the rooms while maintaining a calm and understated visual language.
The soft Oat glaze introduces warmth and tonal variation against the pale timber interiors, allowing the ceramic surface to feel integrated within the architecture rather than applied as decoration. As natural light moves through the compact interiors, the glazed surface reveals subtle shifts in reflection and texture.
Material & Surface Character
Produced in Japan using high-temperature kiln firing, each tile carries natural variation in tone, gloss and surface character. These subtle irregularities prevent the repeated linear format from appearing flat or mechanical, allowing the surfaces to retain warmth and depth across changing light conditions.
Unlike printed ceramic surfaces, the variation in Kaji Border is created naturally during firing, resulting in tonal movement that feels layered and material rather than repetitive.
The tiles have a water absorption rate of 0.02–0.07%, reflecting the dense porcelain body formed during high-temperature kiln firing.
Installation Approach
Kaji Border is supplied on paper-fronted sheets, allowing the tiles to follow the curved internal geometry of the silo conversion while maintaining consistent alignment and spacing throughout the installation.
About Kaji Border
Kaji Border is a Japanese porcelain tile collection characterised by its elongated format, textured glaze and natural tonal variation created during high-temperature kiln firing in Japan. The collection is designed for architectural wall applications where rhythm, reflection and material depth are central to the design.
Why Japanese Porcelain Tiles Were Selected
Japanese porcelain tiles are fired at extremely high temperatures, creating a dense ceramic body with very low water absorption and exceptional surface durability. Combined with naturally varied glazes formed during kiln firing, this allows tiled surfaces to retain depth, movement and tactile character under changing light conditions.
“The restrained palette allows the material relationships to become the defining feature of the project,” says Ian Reynolds. “The warmth of the timber and the subtle movement within the Oat glaze work together naturally within the curved structure of the silos.”
Summary
At the Grain Silo Conversion, Kaji Border Oat is used to introduce warmth, rhythm and material continuity within a highly compact architectural space shaped through proportion, curvature and natural light.
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Kaji Border Japanese Porcelain Tiles (UK)
Kaji Border Japanese Porcelain Tiles (Europe)
Kaji Border Japanese Porcelain Tiles (UAE)
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FAQ
What tiles were used in the Grain Silo Conversion?
Kaji Border Oat Japanese porcelain tiles by Mittsu Japanese Tiles.
Who designed the Grain Silo Conversion?
The project was designed by architect Giles Cadle.
Are Kaji Border tiles made in Japan?
Yes. Kaji Border is produced in Japan using high-temperature kiln firing.
Why were Japanese porcelain tiles selected for this project?
Japanese porcelain tiles combine a dense ceramic body with natural glaze variation, allowing interiors to retain warmth, texture and material depth.
Why does Kaji Border have variation in colour and tone?
The variation is created naturally during kiln firing, where differences in glaze thickness, temperature and atmosphere produce subtle tonal shifts across each tile.
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