27 Wood you believe it?
Richard Besant of Powdertech Corby on how developments in wood finish powder coatings on aluminium are providing a popular and realistic alternative to wood, as materials shortages increase
W
e have witnessed the increased use of architectural powder coatings to a point where powder
coated metal is now a ‘dominant’ building material. Available in thousands of colours and textures, today's architectural powder coatings can also transform metal into wood, stone or terracotta.
Emotional ties to natural elements Architects and designers retain an understandable attachment to traditional building materials, and this is particularly evident with respect to wood. Wood has been the material of choice for building since time immemorial and our adherence to it is innate.
It could be argued that the appearance of
wood, over and above any other qualities it possesses, prompts this emotional response. Other materials such as aluminium and steel may offer far better credentials for a particular building project, but do not inspire the same kind of ‘warm feelings’. The suggestion is that if these materials could be made to look like wood, then those crucial feelings of stability and security could be re-kindled.
The key factor is the accuracy with which the material can be made to resemble wood, however, since our eyes are very discerning. The latest ‘wood finish’ powders provide a very good representation with random, non-repeated patterns. The metal may not feel like wood, but to a large extent, ‘seeing is believing.’
Wellness benefits of wood Planet Ark, based in Australia comments: “An increasing body of research is beginning to show that being surrounded by wood at home, work or school has positive effects on the body, the brain and the environment, and can even shorten hospital stays through reduced recovery times.”
The design of the Baptist Health and MD Anderson Cancer Care Centre, in
ADF OCTOBER 2021
Jacksonville, USA, adopted an holistic approach to the building design, using natural materials extensively. It was found that where wood was impractical to use, the designers retained the overall natural look on aluminium aerofoil blades, providing a credible substitute.
Building safety
Safety is critical in building design and the flammability of wood makes it a specification choice with various added considerations. Treating wood to
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