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Alloys of copper have also grown in popularity. They include bronze, an alloy of copper and tin which gradually changes to a dark chocolate brown when used outside, and brass, which can also be supplied pre-weathered. An innovative alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc enjoys a rich, golden through-colour which remains very stable, just developing a matt surface – but no patination – over time.
As well as roofing and external cladding, copper and its alloys are also the metals of choice for interior design, contributing a distinctive tactility to door furniture and handrails, and a visual richness to lighting and other fittings, championed by leading designers such as Tom Dixon. Increasingly, they are being applied as high-quality finishes for walls, doors, ceilings, elevators, highlight surfaces, bars, splashbacks and counters, exploiting the materials’ unique performance characteristics.
One particular recurring architectural theme is material continuity, blurring the boundaries between outside and in
Mechanically applied surface treatments Most recently, various copper surfaces and alloys have been made available with a diversity of mechanically applied surface treatments, adding an extra dimension. The latest developments in abraded and embossed mechanical surface treatments are particularly suited to interior design, adding another level of close-up visual richness, texture and tactility.
These treatments include embossing to provide regular patterns of raised or recessed forms, some also abraded to reveal highlights of the base material colour for additional design effects. Grindings are also available with linear, cross-hatched or curved-swirl hairlines to give distinctive
matt surfaces. These surface treatments, combined with the natural living colours of copper and its alloys, offer real design freedom, adding a richness and opulence to public areas. They can also provide an inherent warmth and sense of quality to ‘highlight’ surfaces in homes as well.
Forms & systems
Apart from traditionally-jointed, rolled material supported by a substrate, various other forms of copper are increasingly being explored by innovative designers. For example, copper can be supplied in profiled sheets or extremely flat honeycomb panels, and it can be pressed to provide surface textures and modulation. The material can also be perforated, expanded or woven as mesh, giving varying degrees of transparency. When used internally, of course copper can be used in an even wider range of forms and systems, free from the constraints of weather-proof detailing. One particular recurring architectural theme is material continuity, blurring the boundaries between outside and in with external copper cladding simply continuing past fully-glazed walls. When used outside, it’s important to remember that ongoing changes to copper, including pre-oxidised and pre-patinated, as well as alloys such as brass and bronze, will continue over time depending on the local environment. Again, this does not generally apply to interior applications and designers should understand and, indeed, celebrate the divergent developments of internal and external copper.
Graeme Bell is Nordic Copper sales and marketing manager at Aurubis
PARAMOUNT HOTEL, EARL’S COURT
External screens of perforated and opaque copper tiles arranged in chevron patterns also add an Art Deco feel to the boutique hotel’s interior © Katherine Lu
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF DECEMBER 2020
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