Gently curving, perforated Nordic Brass solar screens help to define the character of a key community building in Melbourne, Australia. They also enhance its sustainability, recognised by the highest, six-star ‘Greenstar’ rating.
Designed by architects GroupGSA, the North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub is a three-storey building incorporating a library, Maternal Child Health Facility and various community spaces. The tapered site presents long facades to the east and west. The eastern facade allows glimpses into the building, particularly at night, with views out to the public urban space.
Much of the glazing is shielded by the curved, vertical screens of perforated Nordic Brass, each one offset against the next. The pattern formed by the perforations in the brass is derived from the dappled light patterns from the trees in the adjacent Edinburgh Gardens. This theme continues internally with perforated Nordic Brass applied to internal features such as the reception desk.
Nordic Brass – which can also be supplied pre-weathered – is an alloy of copper and zinc 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 in around a year. Other Nordic Copper alloys include Nordic Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, initially with a similar colour to Nordic Standard copper, which gradually changes to a stable, dark chocolate brown. The innovative Nordic Royal, an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, enjoys a rich golden through-colour which remains very stable.
In addition, other Nordic Copper ranges from Aurubis include Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper, offering lighter 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. Solid patina colours and various ‘Living’ surfaces are available for each range. A wide choice of Nordic Decor mechanically applied surface treatments can also be supplied.
More information: www.nordiccopper.com or: g.bell(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aurubis.com