Copper Architecture Forum 2017 42 ENGLISH

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EDITORIAL

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EVOLVING COPPER ARCHITECTURE The diversity of surfaces offered by copper and its alloys today is greater than ever. It is important to appreciate the living nature of the material and its evolving appearance on buildings, driven by local environments. In this and future issues, we aim to show changes over time with featured projects – and more can be found at copperconcept.org.

Our first article examines the evolving surface of an intricately perforated copper veil, enveloping a massive Texas convention centre (pages 4 – 9). Another creative example of perforated copper follows, this time forming the interior of a cultural centre in Saudi Arabia (pages 10 – 11). In contrast, a pre-patinated copper, curved façade announces a new university campus for Cambridge (pages 12 – 15). Another UK university, this time in Middlesbrough, also celebrates copper’s curvilinear capabilities, here using a rich golden alloy (pages 16 – 19). This same copper alloy finds a fresh application on the theatrical gateway to a road tunnel in Austria (pages 20 – 21).

A new key landmark for Copenhagen, the Maersk Building, is defined by its grid of storey-height copper fins – some moving in response to the sun – creating intriguing patterns on a grand scale (pages 22 – 25). Also concerned with patterns, but at a more intimate level using bespoke perforations, is a high-tech manufacturing building in Germany’s historic industrial region (pages 26 – 29).

In Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain undulating waves of pre-patinated copper roofs celebrate movement at a bus station (pages 30 – 31). In contrast, Brass facades are used in a contemporary take on vernacular Alpine houses for a new kindergarten in Switzerland (pages 32 – 33). Also Brass and in an Alpine location is a modern hotel in Austria, providing a clear example of the material’s visual evolution over time (pages 34 – 37). We finish this issue with a civic building where green pre-patinated copper references its historic context in Warsaw (pages 38 - 39).

Since launching the 2017 European Copper in Architecture Awards in our last issue, the panel of architect judges will now have selected a Shortlist. So, this is the time for you to choose your favourite shortlisted project and help it win the ‘Public Choice Award’: vote now at copperconcept.org.

The Editorial Team

Order your free printed copy and read magazine back issues on copperconcept.org Copper Architecture Forum 42, June 2017

Publisher: Nigel Cotton, ECI

Copper Architecture Forum is part of the ”European Copper In Architecture Campaign”. It is published twice a year and has a circulation of 25.000 copies.

Editor in Chief: Robert Pintér

The magazine is distributed to architects and building professionals throughout Europe – and beyond – in English, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish languages.

Editorial team: Ari Lammikko, Chris Hodson, Graeme Bell, Herbert Mock, Hermann Kersting, Irina Dumitrescu, Robert Pinter

E-mail: editorialteam@copperconcept.org Address: CAF, European Copper Institute, Avenue de Tervueren 168 b-10, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium Layout and technical production: ECI Printing: Copy & Consulting Kft., Hungary

Editor: Chris Hodson RIBA

Editorial panel: Birgit Schmitz, De Kazimierz Zakrzewski, Pl Marco Crespi, It Nicholas Hay, UK Nikolaos Vergopoulos, Gr Nuno Diaz, Es Olivier Tissot, Fr Pia Voutilainen, Se, No, Fi, Dk Robert Pintér, Hu, Cz, Svk, Ru Yolande Pianet, Benelux

birgit.schmitz@copperalliance.de kazimierz.zakrzewski@copperalliance.pl marco.crespi@copperalliance.it nick.hay@copperalliance.org.uk nick.vergopoulos@copperalliance.gr nuno.diaz@copperalliance.es olivier.tissot@copperalliance.fr pia.voutilainen@copperalliance.se robert.pinter@copperalliance.hu yolande.pianet@copperalliance.eu

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CONTENTS

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22 – 25 COVER:

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2 EVOLVING COPPER ARCHITECTURE – editorial comment 4 – 9 UNCONVENTIONAL COPPER – perforated copper cloaks the mass of a multifunctional conference centre 10 – 11 COPPER WITHIN THE STONE – the interior of this cultural centre’s main hall is defined by perforated copper 12 – 15 CAMBRIDGE BLUE – a pivotal university building is accentuated by pre-patinated copper 16 – 19 COPPER CURVE – the heart of this university campus is established by a golden copper alloy landmark 20 – 21 THE ARCHITECTURE OF MOVEMENT – driving into a new Alpine tunnel is enhanced by its new entrance

38 – 39

Mærsk Building, Copenhagen Photo: Adam Mørk

22 – 25 TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT – an iconic copper tower plays an important role on Copenhagen’s skyline 26 – 29 REGENERATION EXPRESSION – this new headquarters symbolises change from historic industry to high-tech 30 – 31 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE – public transport comes of age with this modern copper-roofed bus station 32 – 33 KINDERGARTEN COPPER – a pair of modern brass monoliths house childcare in an Alpine village 34 – 37 EVOLVING SURFACES – brass cladding on a contemporary hotel anticipates natural surface changes 38 – 39 ROYAL REFERENCE – this pre-patinated copper civic building near a royal palace links past and present

© Copper Architecture Forum 2017 COPPERCONCEPT.ORG 3

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UNCONVENTIONAL COPPER

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GREEN BUILDING

AWARD WINNING PROJECT

A transparent copper veil defines the massive Convention Center at Las Colinas, Texas. This innovative project, designed by Studio Hillier, has been LEED certified for its sustainability credentials.

The 25,000m2 multifunctional complex, incorporating a column-free exhibition hall, is conceived as a twisted stack of boxes, enabling the building to shade itself and its outdoor patios. Its verticality generates a much smaller footprint than expected for the typology, making it more efficient for servicing events and for visitors to move fluidly between spaces within interesting places to interact with one another.

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The building has achieved ‘LEED Silver’ certification from the US Green Building Council for its integration of sustainable principles and innovative design. Over 130 tonnes of copper has been used to cover the building – selected as a natural, lightweight and low-maintenance material. Much of the copper covering is pulled away from the building, providing shade and a cushion of cooling air to reduce energy consumption. Here, graduated perforations in the copper also add transparent qualities to the architecture both by day and at night.

by Chris Hodson

The project was a winner of the 2015 North American Copper in Architecture Awards

Photo: Tex Jernigan

Photo: Tex Jernigan

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COPPER CLOSE-UP

UNIQUE COPPER SURFACES A pattern unique to the building has been developed and applied across its entire surface, with copper panels either embossed to give texture or perforated for transparency, using a special mechanical process. Part of the development involved exploration of how two layers of the same perforated material would interact with each other. Here, the eventual design generates fascinating moiré patterns, transforming as you move past.

The detailed design also creates an illusion, at first glance, of the discreet circular shapes floating in space, due to the slightness of the copper ‘bridges’ connecting them. ‘Mill finish’ copper has been used throughout – deliberately – so that the initial bright copper surface will go through a long process of natural patination, determined by the local environment. Within weeks of installation, the project had already begun to darken in areas and, within a year, the whole building had developed a deep, bluish-brown tone.

Architects: Studio Hillier Copper Fabricator/Installer: A. Zahner Company Copper Product: TECU® Classic Photos: Zahner - unless marked otherwise

WITHIN WEEKS

NEW

Photo: Tex Jernigan

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COPPER CLOSE-UP

SURFACE EVOLUTION

AFTER A YEAR

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COPPER WITHIN THE STONE

by Chris Hodson Architects Snøhetta’s design for the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, was conceived as an assembly of massive monolithic rounded stones, each a component with a dedicated function and character.

Components below ground – including the archives and the museum – focus on the past, while those at ground level are anchored in the present and the Knowledge Tower soars upward into the future.

At the heart of the Center, the Great Hall will house international touring exhibitions, festivals, conferences and events, and is considered to be a ‘window on the world’. Its smooth naturalistic external form is mirrored inside with a gently curved copper skin defining the vast open space. The continuous bands of copper have been perforated to let in light, creating a warm, desert night-sky.

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Architects: Snøhetta Copper Installer: EMT Srl – European Metal Technology . Rome . IT Copper Product: TECU® Classic (bond punch) Photos: Rida Salmi Photography

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Copper cladding is an extremely durable material that brings a sense of dignity

CAMBRIDGE BLUE A dramatic curved façade, clad in tiered layers of blue-green pre-patinated copper, announces the new campus for Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK, as Richard Murphy Architects explain.

The 3.5-hectare site on the edge of a historic conservation area housed a disused Victorian primary school alongside derelict buildings and land. Our phased development of the site sought not only to create new education floor space but also to repair and reinstate a small piece of Cambridge’s historic urban fabric.

The first phase, completed in 2014, houses the Faculty of Nursing and Social Care. The 2nd and 3rd phases physically join on to this at upper levels to form a single connected complex of buildings. This complex encloses new, south facing courtyard spaces containing both hard and soft landscaped areas, with pedestrian and cyclist access into the campus on all four sides.

Architects: Richard Murphy Architects Copper Installer: NDM Ltd Copper Product: Nordic BlueTM Living 3 Drawings: Richard Murphy Architects

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Photo: R G Carter Cambridge

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Photo: Richard Murphy Architects

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AWARD WINNING PROJECT

Photo: Richard Murphy Architects

This project won the ‘Best New Large Building’ prize in Cambridge City Council’s 2015 Design & Construction Awards and has been shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects 2017 regional awards.

UNIQUE FACADE The 2nd phase building has been given a unique façade of copper cladding and a dramatic stepped roof profile, both to identify the lecture theatre volume within but also to signify the campus entrance at one end, whilst stepping down to the scale of neighbouring, Victorian terraced housing at the other. The three buildings comprising the new campus share the same external facing brickwork, structured by dark metal detailing. In contrast, vertical standing-seam cladding in prepatinated copper accentuates the curved facades of the 2nd phase lecture theatre.

EXTREMELY DURABLE Copper cladding is an extremely durable material that supports the longevity inherent in the other brickwork façades. It also brings a sense of dignity that the University wishes to engender in its buildings to reflect its own values as a high quality Higher Education establishment. The bluegreen pre-patination effectively gave straightaway the closest visual match to a natural patinated copper in our opinion – without the 25-year wait for the weather to do the job for us.

NORTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

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COPPER CURVE

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Architects Austin-Smith:Lord discuss the role of golden copper alloy cladding on their recently completed landmark building in strongly defining the new heart of Teesside University’s campus in Middlesbrough, UK. The new Teaching and Conference Building – known as The Curve – forms part of a competition winning design for a unique environment at the centre of Teesside University, including extensive public realm, art and lighting. This new ‘Campus Heart’ aims to rival any new university in the Country or indeed Europe.

The new building’s teaching block and 200-seat auditorium are linked and expressed by a curved façade that wraps around the north, east and south elevations, embracing the western end of the ‘Campus Heart’. Expressing each of the building’s elements separately gives an opportunity for a bold and striking composition, especially as the auditorium is able to ‘float’ at first and second floor levels, allowing the ‘Campus Heart’ landscape treatment to flow under it and into the building. Where the teaching block cuts back at ground level, a triple height concourse is formed from fully glazed curtain walling.

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VIGOROUS APPEARANCE The façade materials have been influenced by considerations of both existing context and an ambition to create a landmark building with a strong and, possibly, unique identity. Although most existing, neighbouring buildings are in a light coloured masonry, we felt that mirroring this might not re-define the character of the existing space vigorously enough.

Architects: Austin-Smith:Lord Copper Installer: European Roofing Systems Copper Product: Nordic Royal TM Photos: MHK Photography

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The desire for an identifiable, landmark building that is fresh, exciting and unique suggested we should be bold in our choice of materials. We chose to use a golden copper alloy cladding system that will easily form the curved wall surfaces and accommodate the shaped cut outs for windows.

The copper alloy brings an additional warmth and texture to the new ‘Campus Heart’ with a material that will maintain its high-quality appearance with negligible maintenance.

FIRST FLOOR PLAN Public circulation Teaching Plant/ Stores WC’s/ Showers Lecture Theatre

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF MOVEMENT

by Chris Hodson One of the most important connections to South East Europe, the 5.5km long Bosruck Tunnel passes through the Ennstal Alps, connecting Upper Austria with Styria. The original, two-way traffic tunnel has been renovated and a second, new tunnel built alongside. Now part of the A9 Pyhrn motorway, it is used by around 18,000 vehicles each day.

This impressive engineering feat is announced by new portal structures at both ends of the tunnel, to a competitionwinning design by architect Peter Riepl. The highly architectonic approach taken is unusual for projects of this kind, suggesting a new building typology in celebration of transport infrastructure. But precedents can be found with the architectural treatments of 19 th century railway tunnel entrances.

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Photo: Otto Hainzl

THEATRICAL SCREENS At Bosruck, the architecture is thoroughly modern and the design strategy almost theatrical. A series of screens – made up of perforated brass cassettes, profiled and arranged to reflect the verticality of the surroundings – partially conceal buildings and equipment essential to the tunnels operation and safety. They impose a visual order and consistency for these disparate elements but also offer transparency and airiness, symbolic of the now barrier-free connection between the two federal provinces. The rhythms of the vertical brass screens will highlight the experience of travellers as they approach and drive straight into the building, moving through the dramatic ‘flying roof’ entrance and exit galleries which act as transition spaces between inside and out.

This light touch approach belies the permanent nature of the structures and technical demands of such a challenging environment. Brass was chosen for its long-life and durability, including resistance to road salt, after running a corrosion trial simulating the exposure of the material for 30 years.

Architect: Peter Riepl Copper Installer: HODAPP Austria GmbH Main Contractor: ASFINAG. Austria Copper Product: Nordic Brass Photos: Olaf Rohl - unless marked otherwise

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TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT In January 2017, an iconic new tower – the Mærsk Building – was inaugurated In the presence of HM Queen Margrethe, adding a major landmark to Copenhagen’s skyline. Architects C.F. Møller explain their design, characterised by continuous curvilinear bands of vertical copper brise-soleils.

The architectural intent was to create a sustainable landmark, in dialogue with the city and university in a new and open way. The new complex is also intended to act as a catalyst for positive urban development in its immediate neighbourhood and the entire city. The 15-storey tower rests on a series of smaller buildings containing the common functions: three auditoriums, classrooms, canteen, show lab, conference rooms and book café.

Architects: C.F. MØLLER Copper Installer: Waagner-Biro Stahlbau AG . Wien . A Copper Product: TECU® Classic Photos: Adam Mørk Drawings: C.F. MØLLER

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DYNAMIC FACADE

GREEN BUILDING

AWARD WINNING PROJECT

A GREEN SOCIAL HUB FOR THE CAMPUS The most striking part of this level is the extensive science plaza, which will form the new social hub of the Panum Institute and the University of Copenhagen’s Nørre Campus as a whole. It accommodates the main entrance and links all functions across the complex. A new public campus park will be established, offering outdoor study and recreation spaces for researchers and students, as well as new natural spaces for all the residents of Nørrebro, together with a 300 metre aerial path. The public will also be invited to visit the top of the tower with a café, lounge and viewing points.

The new 42,700 m2 building houses state of the art facilities for research and teaching of health and medical sciences.

Most levels are devoted to advanced research and the building is therefore designed to be completely stable. Its concrete core is cast in situ, so that the vibrations from the city’s life do not disturb research activities on the different levels. The building is also one of Denmark’s most energyefficient laboratory buildings and reuses waste energy, with climate-friendly remote cooling, reuse of rainwater for sanitary purposes and irrigation, and 1,500m2 of solar cells.

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DEVELOPING THE DESIGN The urban setting and lines of sight across the locality were key factors in shaping the Mærsk Building. The triangular footprint derived from angles of the adjacent streets and the shape presents its narrowest gable towards the slender spire of a nearby church. This orientation also contributes to the energy efficiency of the building by reducing south exposure and thus solar gain.

The masterplan creates an easily legible composition on the site – a star shape, enabling the complex to be constructed in phases, leaving room for further future extensions that may not yet have been defined. The star shape also creates a series of lively urban spaces closely related to the surrounding buildings and includes the local neighbourhood by providing green space as well as public pathways across the site – all for the common good.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY DIAGRAM natural ventillation of atriums by passive solar effect in double skin facades

green roofs on all buildings for rainwater management daylight - cuts providing daylight deep into the building volume

highly insulated envelope movable sunscreens rounded building shape and supporting low buildings as well as planting around the science tower ensure good deflection of winds varied biodiversity

good visual connections between floors strenghten the community of the vertically stacked research units healthy life - active use of open internal stairs reduces the energy consumption for lifts public lift provides views of the community public path runs through the complex, creating a fully accessible shortcut to the campus and science tower - 7/24

impact of deliveries reduced by integration into transparent base in dialogue with covered building base surroundings and city rainwater collection for toilets and irrigation

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covered bicycle storage in direct connection with good changing room facilities and public bicycle lanes

AN ANIMATED COPPER GRID The science tower’s exterior appearance enters into a dialogue with the existing Panum complex and the surrounding buildings, where red brick dominates. The facade is built up in the form of a grid comprising storeyheight window fields that break up the building’s large scale.

The storey-height bands are fitted with over 3,000 vertical copper fins. The choice of copper on this prominent building anticipates the natural changes that will occur, starting with shiny and developing to dark brown, with a green copper patina only after many years.

A third of the fins move, enabling the facade to constantly change character as they open and close, responding to the sun’s path around the building. When activated, each section splits in two with one half remaining static while the other half slides in front of the window glass, providing efficient protection against heat gain into the laboratories. This helps to ensure that the building achieves a ‘low-energy class 2015’ rating. It also adds to the building’s sustainability credentials, alongside the choice of copper as an exceptionally long-life material that will eventually be recycled.

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REGENERATION EXPRESSION Copper’s golden alloy – applied as a thoroughly modern material to this corporate headquarters – heralds the replacement of old heavy industries with the new high-tech. The recently completed building is at the heart of a historical steel production area’s regeneration in Dortmund, within Germany’s Ruhr region.

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Since 1990, Dortmund-based microsonic has concentrated on the development and production of innovative ultrasonic sensors for industrial automation technology. Its new headquarters building has not only doubled production capacity but also provides a light, attractive and open working environment, in keeping with the ethos of an innovative technology company. Designed by architects F&G Geddert and plus 4930, the three-storey building combines manufacturing and storage areas, development laboratories and an office level for management, sales and administration

SOUTH FACING TERRACE The building’s plan form is a simple square. This reduces on the first floor to a U-shape, sheltering a green roof terrace. The south-facing terrace provides a recreational area for employees and outdoor meeting area, overlooked by a generous café, sharing panoramic views towards the nearby Phoenix Lake. The second floor accommodation reduces further to a street-front block and copper alloy mesh enclosed service wing. A central ‘light tower’ over the reception area connects different parts of the building on all three levels and ensures close interaction between company departments.

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THE SOUND OF COPPER The golden facades of the building comprise longitudinal cassettes, manufactured from an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, with a regular pattern of circular perforations. Their contemporary look belies subtle references to the history and future of both microsonic and its locality, reflected in an intervention by artist Sebastian Freytag, whose work deals with the history of the Ruhr and Dortmund, in collaboration with the architects.

A word cycle was developed of terms describing the local history, present and future. With bespoke programming these words, as spoken by employees, are translated from sound frequencies into graphics expressed as perforation patterns on individual copper alloy cassettes. These ‘spoken words’ appear randomly dispersed amongst the regular perforation grid panels around the building.

Architects: F&G Geddert and plus 4930 Copper Installer: Heinrich Schmid GmbH & Co. KG and Geschäftsbereich Komplettbau Copper Façade Planners: Transform Engineers AB Copper Product: Nordic RoyalTM Photos: Fa. microsonic GmbH

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MODERN METHODS To realise the design intentions, continuity of the facades was essential and the perforated copper alloy surface is applied seamlessly across folding shutters for glazed openings.

Modern methods of detailing and construction proved critical in successfully delivering this contemporary architecture, with its tight tolerances, using 3D modelling and off-site prefabrication techniques. Specialist façade planners worked closely with the fabricators and copper alloy supplier, developing innovative details and optimising use of material.

by Chris Hodson

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GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

by Chris Hodson

ICONIC ROOF PROFILES

Undulating waves of pre-patinated copper define Ocenda Usandizaga Arquitectos’ new bus station design in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, and enhance its strong sustainability agenda.

The undulating curves and folded planes of each arm continue over the core building to be linked by two more roof surfaces, terminating in four distinct, upturned canopies over the piazza façade, revealing timber strip soffits. The iconic roof profiles and their green copper cladding are said to represent the industrial heritage of the city.

The distinctive U-shaped plan form contains bus traffic and its two copper-roofed arms provide shelter for embarking travellers. The base of the U forms the core with a large central hall and various public facilities, including a café and top-floor restaurant, along with offices and a control room.

Its fully glazed façade opens out onto a large public piazza.

Architects: Ocenda Usandizaga Arquitectos Copper Installer: Vicente Escolano Copper Product: TECU® Patina Photos: Francisco Saborido Garcia

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This ‘green’ building optimises energy efficiency with geothermal energy, photovoltaic electricity generation, smart LED lighting technology and large roof-lights for lighting and passive solar gain when needed. These impressive sustainability initiatives are bolstered by material selection – notably the copper which not only came entirely from recycled sources but can also be recycled again at the end of the building’s life.

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KINDERGARTEN COPPER Bright and reflective in the Alpine sun, the brass facades and roofs of this interconnected pair of buildings in Vétroz, Switzerland will naturally darken and develop their own character. Here, brass is used in varying width vertical strips, unrelieved by eaves, gutters or other traditional features, to give a monolithic, modern take on pitched-roof village houses, accentuated by concrete gable ends. Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes describe their project.

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The two buildings – each three storey – are set into the naturally sloping site and linked by a heated underground passage. The southern building accommodates the pre/postschool childcare unit and the nursery, while the northern building houses the crèche. Access is via sloping paths that run along the length of the site, allowing easy pushchair access to both buildings. Spaces between and around the buildings are reorganised into areas for the different groups of children, a public space to the north and a car drop-off point to the east.

PLAYFUL WINDOW ARRANGEMENT Internally, both buildings are free of intermediate structures, making them as flexible as possible. This principle is reinforced by integrating storage into the external walls. The main areas therefore run right through the building, providing plenty of light and varied relationships with the exterior.

The playful arrangement of windows offers various options for adapting the spaces and adds dynamism to the façades.

Their positioning transforms them into usable, child-scale recesses.

Architects: Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes, Sion, CH/ Atelier d’architecture Cordonier Joseph Sàrl, Lens, CH Copper Installer: MAB Amsler . Bellach . CH Copper Product: TECU® Brass Photos: Thomas Jantscher

SECTION

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EVOLVING SURFACES The Hotel am See sits close to Lake Constance in the Austrian resort of Hard. Its architects FRÜH ARCHITEKTURBÜRO ZT explain the rationale behind its elegant but understated design and use of materials. Photographs taken at completion in 2011 and subsequently provide a demonstration of the visual changes that occur with copper alloys in the environment over time.

The building comprises two linked blocks arranged to generate fascinating external public spaces including a restaurant terrace and lawns for sunbathing by the side of a stream. This geometry creates a link between the existing town and the lakeshore. Internally, clear zoning guides guests along pathways from the underground garage to lobby, bar and breakfast room, then unfolding to the 50 bedrooms and finally to the rooftop spa.

Architects: FRÜH ARCHITEKTURBÜRO ZT GmbH Copper Installer: Rusch Spenglerei und Dachdecker, Bregenz Copper Product: TECU® Brass Photos: Christine Andorfer

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HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS The entire hotel has been designed to be spacious, bright and open. Particular care has been taken with design of the guest bedrooms, focusing on extensive glazing opening onto private balconies. In a departure from typical hotel plan forms, bathrooms have been moved to the outside and are flooded with daylight. Natural stone and local timber provide continuity and add to the palette of high-quality materials used throughout the building.

BRASS FACADES The building is enveloped by a ventilated brass façade, accentuated by vertical standing seam joints. The varying distances between the vertical joints gives the appearance of waves across the facade. Interestingly, facades take on different appearances, varying between highly structured and a softer continuous skin, depending upon time of day, weather and season.

Brass is also applied as a continuous covering for balcony parapets and soffits. We selected brass as the predominant external covering for its durability but, primarily, for its unique vivid colour changes that – over time – will see bright yellow transform to a rich dark brown-anthracite.

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SURFACE EVOLUTION 2016

2011

THE EVOLVING FACE OF BRASS Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, initially with a distinctive golden yellow colour. When exposed to the atmosphere the surface begins to darken within weeks and can change to a dark brown, sometimes in only a year. Generally, older vertical brass surfaces will remain dark brown, although a blue/green patina can eventually develop on roofs or other areas where rainwater dwells longer.

The changes that can occur and their timings are localised and determined by several factors including orientation, weather and air quality. Where a long-term golden colour is preferred, an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc retains its original colour and simply loses some of its sheen over time, giving a matt finish.

SURFACE EVOLUTION ON COPPER CONCEPT

SURFACE EVOLUTION

To discover more project examples and information on surface evolution over time of copper and its alloys go to copperconcept.org/ en/references and turn on “surface evolution” filter or scan QR code.

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ROYAL REFERENCE A modern civic building in an important and historic district of Warsaw references the green copper roofs of the nearby royal palace, as architects Kuryłowicz & Associates explain.

Although resulting from our competition winning design in 2000, the Wilanów Town Hall project lay partially built for a decade before completion at the end of 2014. The design aims to create a contemporary building, clearly democratic and open to residents – as local government buildings should be – and situated in an attractive urban space that will prove inviting for meetings and events.

Architects: Kuryłowicz & Associates Copper Installer: OPAL Copper Product: Nordic GreenTM Photos: Wojciech Kryński

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The development site forms a triangle, divided into two parts: the Town Hall itself, announced by a clock tower at the triangle’s peak, and an office block. These are separated by a public square with an amphitheatre and seating, partially covered by the main building’s roof, over-sailing its green pre-patinated copper facade. One edge of the triangle runs along the road between Warsaw centre and the Wilanów Palace. On this elevation, pre-patinated copper is used in conjunction with stone, characterising both buildings along the royal route.

Proximity to the historic palace buildings and the materials used there – including copper on the baroque roofs – had a major impact on our design concept. We sought to refer to local traditions while, at the same time, creating a contemporary solution. Here, copper acts as a bridge between history and the present day.

Town Hall

FURTHER READING Copper Architecture Forum has previously explored Kuryłowicz & Associates’ interest in pre-patinated copper, both at the University of Warsaw (CAF 34, page 24) and (working with Lahdelma & Mahlamäki) at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw (CAF 35, page 25).

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SITE LAYOUT PLAN CROSS-SECTION THROUGH THE SITE

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Copper Architecture Forum

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