Rutland Architectural Copper - Gutter Supplies

Sunday, August 29, 2010

The European Copper in Architecture Awards are biennial awards which recognize excellence in design for European architectural projects incorporating copper roofing, copper wall cladding and other copper architectural design elements. The 15th iteration of the awards will officially be launched in September 2010 for architectural projects completed between April 2009 and May 2011 with the judging and presentation of awards occurring in 2011. The previously concluded 14th European Copper in Architecture Award competition celebrated the use of copper in architecture in all of it's forms and selected the best in contemporary copper architecture from across Europe. Some of the European Copper In Architecture award winners are described and shown below.

Archeology Museum of Vitoria Spain European Copper in Architecture Award Winner street view pictured here

Archeology Museum of Vitoria Spain European Copper in Architecture Award Winner courtyard view one pictured here

Archeology Museum of Vitoria Spain European Copper in Architecture Award Winner courtyard view two pictured here

Archeology Museum of Vitoria Spain European Copper in Architecture Award Winner corner view pictured here

Archeology Museum of Vitoria, Spain -Overall Award Winner
(photo credits www.copperconcept.org and www.copperinfo.co.uk)

The Archeology Museum in Vitoria, Spain was overall European Copper in Architecture Award 14 winner. The Archaeology museum shares a courtyard with the historic Palace of Bendana. The building facade is comprised extensively of copper alloy cast bronze and glass. The effect has been characterized as an ageless fortress in an urban setting which reveals more of itself as you enter the courtyard. The architects of the project Mangado y Asociados S L describe the building as "a compact jewel box concealing the treasures that history has entrusted to us".

Mediacomplex 22@ Barcelona,Spain is highly commended European Copper In Architecture Award winner pictured here

Mediacomplex 22@ Barcelona,Spain is highly commended European Copper In Architecture Award design winner tower view pictured here

Mediaplex Complex 22@, Barcelona, Spain
(photo credits Alejo Bagué, courtesy www.copperinfo.co.uk)

The Mediaplex Complex 22@ in Barcelon, Spain was a highly commended award winner and is comprised of two contrasting main elements. The factory is a horizontal block adjoining a 19th century factory building and is comprised of smooth, opaque, perforated panels of copper. The tower utilizes copper faced screens over it's vertical grid of glazing providing shade. Both architectural elements make extensive use of copper, use copper as a unifying material and share common proportions.

Housing at Frederikskaj Copenhagen, Denmark a European Copper In Architecture Commended Design Award winner pictured here

Housing at Frederikskaj Copenhagen, Denmark a European Copper In Architecture Commended Design Award winner side view pictured here

Housing at Frederikskaj Copenhagen, Denmark
(photo credits www.copperconcept.org and www.copperinfo.co.uk)

Housing at Frederikskaj Copenhagen, Denmark was a commended award winner and is a residential project of 152 light, airy and spacious owner occupied apartments or condos located directly on the harbor. The architect who see the building akin to a luxury ocean liner docked at port, used materials with a nautical heritage including textured and smooth copper, hardwood windows and glass in a thoroughly modern design. The beautifully detailed but understated copper cladding provides solidity in concert with the concrete frame and blends well into the nearby commercial area.

8/29/2010 12:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Friday, December 11, 2009

Green Home - Copper Building

Green, green home, green building, going green, sustainability and LEED are all catch phrases that seem to be catching steam and quickly building momentum these days. What does go green and green building specifically mean? Green building is the philosophy, design and implementation of the most efficient use of resources, that are both environmentally responsible and positively affect our health throughout the building's entire life cycle. The building's life cycle starts with siting, includes design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and then finally demolition. The total long term environmental cost of all building components is calculated and factors into green building design. Green building extends traditional building's short term concerns of economy, utility, durability and comfort with long term goals of sustainability, high performance, human health and environmental impact. The environment is impacted by the production and consumption of materials, natural resources, energy, water and land. Our environment is adversely altered by the building's inhabitants generation of waste products, water pollution, air pollution, heat and noise. Ultimate effects may include harm to human health, degradation of the environment including the atmosphere and loss of natural resources. Green building's goal is to reduce or eliminate any adverse health and environmental impact for every kind of building including residential, public, governmental, religious and commercial.

Copper Mining

The whole field of green building is literally exploding and there is so much information already available out there on many of the aspects involved with green building. Today's blog is just an overview that defines what green building is and there will be a subsequent series of articles that will cover in more depth the many aspects involved. We will also closely examine and feature the role of copper in green building and green homes. Copper homes, copper building and copper architecture play an important part in virtually all green building designs, including some or all of the following: plumbing, wiring, solar panels, windmills, tankless water heaters, external wall siding, roofing, guttering, roof structures, flashing, chimneys, fascia, vents, duct work, healthier copper kitchen designs, even outside door and window cladding. Copper usage in fact can contribute upwards of 13 points in various areas towards LEED green building certification.