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COMMENT
ABERDEEN ART GALLERY
This modern addition to the Aberdeen Art Gallery is clad with vertical, scalloped panels – including some perforated for transparency – of pre-oxidised copper, complementing an original dome repaired with pre-patinated copper © dapple photography
accurately controlled so that, as well as the solid blue/green patina colours, other intensities of patina flecks can be created revealing some of the dark oxidised background material to give a ‘living’ surface. In addition to all these natural surfaces, copper alloys – including Bronze, Brass and a more recent golden material – add to the architectural copper palette. For restoration projects, unique pre-patinated copper material can now be produced to match the naturally patinated copper on a building. An original sample from the building is used but initial development can be started with photographs. Often, the original copper removed from a project can be recycled for reuse on the same building.
Apart from traditionally-jointed, rolled material supported by a substrate, various other forms of copper are increasingly being explored by designers. For example, copper can be supplied in profiled sheets or extremely flat honeycomb panels, pressed to provide surface textures and modulation, or perforated, expanded or woven as mesh enabling transparency.
Sustainability credentials
Combinations of these numerous natural surfaces, diverse forms and innovative installation techniques offer architects a new design freedom – enhanced by copper’s exemplary sustainability credentials. Copper is a natural element within the earth’s crust which has been incorporated into living organisms throughout the evolutionary process. It is non-toxic and its inherent antimicrobial
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WINDERMERE JETTY MUSEUM The Windermere Jetty Museum is unified and defined by facades and oversailing roofs clad in pre-oxidised copper, folded and pinned with a regular pattern of brass fixings to give the elevations a unique texture © Christian Richters.
Copper can be recycled again and again without any loss of performance or qualities
qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces, including interiors. As a lightweight and flexible covering in buildings, structural support demands are reduced, resulting in lower carbon and ‘whole of life’ costs. Then, at the end of a building’s life, copper retains a high scrap value which drives recovery and recycling. In fact it can be recycled again and again without any loss of performance or qualities, and its lifespan can be regarded conservatively as 200 years when correctly installed. When copper roofs or facades are replaced, it is generally due to substrate or structure failure, rather than the copper.
And it requires no decoration, maintenance or cleaning – saving resources, cleaning chemicals and cost. Its interaction with the environment has been assessed under the European Reach chemical policy and has no classification/restriction. With an ‘A1 (non- combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1, copper is suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. Low thermal movement makes it safe and straightforward to use in any climates and locations.
Chris Hodson is an architect, writer and consultant to Aurubis ADF OCTOBER 2022
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