A dramatic addition to a listed building, forming part of an
impressive new youth facility in Widnes, is defined by pre-patinated
copper from Luvata with a unique Nordic Blue Living surface.
The new ‘Central Rmz’ complex is part of the government’s ‘myplace’
initiative, which aims to provide world-class youth facilities with
the active participation of young people. The design, by architects
Austin-Smith: Lord LLP, incorporates the former Kingsway Medical
Centre - a ‘listed’ building reflecting its rarity as a 1930s
comprehensive health centre outside London and its striking
‘Moderne’ design and Art Deco elements.
The new extension wraps around the rear of the building as an
uncompromisingly contemporary intervention, ending with an offset
copper rhomboid form which breaks through glazed walls and continues
inside. Vertical and horizontal surfaces of the rhomboid – both
inside and out – are clad in long trays of Nordic Blue Living 2 pre-patinated
copper with a distinctive iridescent surface appearance. Particular
care was taken in detailing and setting out to align the copper tray
joints meeting at various angles, all expertly installed by Carlton
Building Services.
Luvata’s innovative Nordic Blue and Green pre-patination offer
architects unparalleled design freedom and the ability to control
the type and intensity of patina. The factory process uses
pre-oxidised copper, sprayed with specifically formulated copper
compounds to create the desired patina colours and heat-treated to
chemically bind them to the copper. The process can be accurately
controlled so that, as well as the solid blue or green patina
colour, other intensities of patina flecks can be created revealing
some of the dark oxidised material behind. These ‘Living’ finishes
can be adjusted to create exciting design opportunities. There are
no limitations on the length of pre-patinated copper sheet or strip
used on a project because whole coils are treated on the production
line, not just limited size sheets.
In addition to this important development with pre-patination, other
surfaces are available today including Nordic Brown pre-oxidised
copper with either light or dark brown oxidisation to both faces
that otherwise takes time to develop in the environment and Nordic
Decor a textured, rolled surface. Copper alloys are also popular for
cladding including Nordic Brass and Nordic Royal an alloy of copper
and aluminium with a long-lasting golden colour.
The Widnes project will be featured at Ecobuild on Luvata’s Stand
N10, where an unrivalled diversity of copper surfaces, forms and
systems for a wide range of architectural applications, illustrated
with projects from around Europe, will be exhibited.
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