EDITOR ’ S CHOICE
TIMELESS CHARACTER WITH NORDIC BRASS WEATHERED
A NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN STOCKHOLM IS DEFINED BY ITS CAREFULLY DETAILED FACADES OF NORDIC BRASS WEATHERED PRE-OXIDISED COPPER ALLOY FROM AURUBIS
In the Nattugglan neighbourhood on the island of Södermalm , developer Vasakronan has replaced an inefficient and outdated office block with a new , ‘ LEED Platinum ’ certified modern building . The new Folkungagatan 44 project provides 22,000 m2 of space , largely for offices but also including conference spaces , plus retail outlets and a restaurant on the open , street-facing ground floor .
Equator Stockholm Architects ’ design for the new building reinvigorates its pivotal location with clearly announced entrances , better connectivity and interaction with the Catholic Cathedral and other surrounding community buildings . Its massing comprises a five-storey block with two further storeys , each stepping back to generate ‘ living roof ’ gardens .
The building ’ s strong presence in the city is defined by its almost classically structured facades of fenestration and Nordic Brass Weathered cladding with a natural colour that complements its surroundings . Carefully detailed and executed flat panels , ‘ fluted ’ mullions and horizontal mouldings between windows , copings and other details align clearly expressed vertical joints throughout .
SUBTLE VARIED SURFACE
The Nordic Brass Weathered copper alloy provides a rich , naturally varied brown surface with a high quality , timeless character . The surface is created by burnishing at the Aurubis copper mill , providing straightaway the same oxidised brown surface that otherwise develops over time in the environment .
Lead architect Louise von Bahr said : ‘ We wanted the cladding to have a contrasting mix of qualities . It should have personality but at the same time be subtle . And we wanted to create a modern look but also matching the Cathedral next door . We decided to use Nordic Brass Weathered cladding designed in a way that picks up
on the historical context – but in a refined and minimalistic way . In the end we are very happy with the results .’
SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
The Nordic Copper alloy cladding also adds to the building ’ s ‘ LEED Platinum ’ certified sustainability agenda . Nordic Copper architectural products and alloys are manufactured using 100 % recycled raw-material , and copper ’ s ability to be recycled repeatedly – without any loss in performance – is an important sustainability benefit .
Copper is a natural element within the earth ’ s crust which has been incorporated into living organisms throughout the evolutionary process . It requires no decoration , maintenance or cleaning , saving resources , cleaning chemicals and cost , and its lifespan can be regarded conservatively as 200 years , subject to substrate and structure .
EXTENSIVE RANGE
The Nordic Copper range of architectural copper and alloy products is available from Aurubis , part of the world ’ s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler . It includes Nordic Standard ‘ mill finish ’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper offering lighter ( Nordic Brown Light ) or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer .
The extensive Nordic Blue , Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world . As well as the solid patina colours , ‘ Living ’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material .
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