Steel's structural capabilities, aesthetic adaptability, durability, and sustainability make it a key material in the creation of modern facades. Whether used for framing, cladding, or as part of a composite system, steel plays a crucial role in shaping the visual identity of contemporary buildings.
Let's explore how steel's malleable properties and shiny finish have made it one of the important materials for portraying futuristic facades!
1. Investcorp Building (Oxford, United Kingdom)
Architects - Zaha Hadid Architects
Typology - Institutional
Purpose - Reflective Stainless steel used on the entire surface.
Mirrored stainless steel clads the building, allowing it to reflect its surroundings. The glazing facade softly reflects natural light to blend with the context.
Credits - Luke Hayes, NAARO
2. Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA, United States)
Architects - Gehry Partners
Typology - Concert Hall
Purpose - The entire structure has an undulating metallic surface.
The exterior is a composition of irregular & angled forms achieved by cladding with stainless steel panels. The reflective surface uses light as a design element here.
3. Raif Dinçkok Yalova Cultural Center (Yalova, Turkey)
Architects - EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture
Typology - Cultural Center
Purpose - Weathered metal sheets shield the entire structure.
Instead of shiny materials, the plates made out of construction steel cover the facade to blend with the context of the industrial city.
Credits - EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture
4. Nascar Hall of Fame (Charlotte, United States)
Architects - Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Typology - Museum
Purpose - A stainless steel ribbon-like loop around the building.
The idea presents a strip-styled stainless steel roadway running around the perimeter of the main building. The satin finish is provided on the surface to avoid glare.
5. Weisman Art Museum (Minnesota, United States)
Architects - Gehry Partners
Typology - Museum
Purpose - Steel sheets are presented like abstract artwork.
The building is a curved metal structure built in an expressionistic style. When the sun reflects on the facade, it generates a blinding effect in the neighborhood.
Credits - Sheehy Construction
6. Museum of Contemporary Art (Cleveland, USA)
Architects - Farshid Moussavi
Typology - Pavilion
Purpose - Structure wrapped in black mirrored stainless steel.
The entire structure is cladded with a black Rimex stainless steel finish. The material reflects its urban surroundings, changing in appearance in light & weather.
Credits - MOCA Cleveland
Steel offers a range of characteristics that make it well-suited for creating futuristic and visually striking building exteriors.
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FAQs
Q1. How does steel contribute to modern facades?
A1. Steel provides structural capabilities, durability, aesthetic adaptability, and sustainability in modern facades, shaping contemporary buildings' visual identity.
Q2. What is unique about the facade of the Investcorp Building?
A2. The Investcorp Building features mirrored stainless steel cladding that reflects its surroundings, blending natural light with the context.
Q3. How is light used in the design of the Walt Disney Concert Hall?
A3. The Walt Disney Concert Hall's exterior is clad in stainless steel panels with an undulating surface, using light as a design element to enhance the structure's visual impact.
Q4. What material is used in the Raif Dinçkok Yalova Cultural Center, and why?
A4. Weathered metal sheets made from construction steel cover the Raif Dinçkok Yalova Cultural Center's facade to blend with the industrial city's context.
Q5. How does the Museum of Contemporary Art's facade reflect its surroundings?
A5. The Museum of Contemporary Art is wrapped in black mirrored stainless steel, reflecting its urban surroundings and changing appearance based on light and weather.
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