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Cor-Ten Steel Brings Enduring Texture to Landscapes
With its rich color and rusty patina, this material makes for an arresting and long-lasting choice for garden walls and more
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Cor-Ten steel is a material that started out as a purely functional product, due to its durable nature. It was orginally used for things like railway coal wagons. Thanks to architects like Eero Saarinen and artists like Richard Serra, we've grown to appreciate the material and its rich, variegated rusty patina and now use it for functional and aesthetic reasons. Cor-Ten is a popular choice not only for building facades but also for elements in the landscape, including fences, fire pits, pool surrounds, retaining walls, steps, planters and more. Check out Cor-Ten in a variety of landscapes and see if your garden could use a little rusty and crusty adornment.
| Cor-Ten is a weathering steel; after being exposed to the elements, the top layer becomes a protective rust that never needs painting. It makes for a striking, low-maintenance fence. Although Cor-Ten is otherwise quite corrosion resistant, it is not completely immune to corrosion. If used near the sea in salty air or if exposed to standing water, it will continue to corrode beyond the initial rusting phase, and thus is not recommended for use under such conditions. Learn more about Cor-Ten |
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Cor-Ten makes a dramatic and practical backdrop for an outdoor fire pit.
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| "The Cor-Ten seems to rust more evenly than regular mild steel and therefore is often worth the extra cost for those instances where you want a calm, consistent rusty color as a backdrop or foil for plantings," says landscape architect Joseph Huettl. Feathery grasses create a dynamic backdrop beyond these rectilinear panels. |
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| "We often pair Cor-Ten panels with blue-green plants such as Festuca 'Elijah Blue' or Juncus patens 'Elk Blue' for a wonderful contrast," says Huettl. |
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This Cor-Ten entry gives privacy and a hint at what visitors will see once they are beyond the gates.
Tip: When using Cor-Ten, keep in mind that runoff from the initial rusting phase can stain adjacent surfaces, like concrete. This phase can last several years, so if you decide to use it next to these surfaces anyway, plan on a stain cleanup after the rusting is done.
Tip: When using Cor-Ten, keep in mind that runoff from the initial rusting phase can stain adjacent surfaces, like concrete. This phase can last several years, so if you decide to use it next to these surfaces anyway, plan on a stain cleanup after the rusting is done.
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"We love using steel in the landscape because of its slight profile and the fact that its natural patina reads like soil or another earthy landscape material," says Dylan Robertson, owner and lead designer at D-Crain Design and Construction. "With great attention to detail and refined craftsmanship, steel can be highly diverse in the landscape."
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| The layer of Cor-Ten in this landscape occupies the space between the lower elements and the tall fence. It ties a series of outdoor rooms together. |
In a quick glance, these Cor-Ten retaining walls resemble soil. All of the horizontality, emphasized by the Cort-Ten on the slope, beautifully blends the landscape and the Prairie-style house.
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You can create large-scale landscape art with Cor-Ten; Richard Serra has been using it for many years.
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| A fence becomes a ribbon-like sculpture when it's crafted of Cor-Ten. |
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| If you're looking to break out of the wood rectangular raised-bed box, consider using Cor-Ten to create some great curves in a container garden. |
Cor-Ten is especially striking in a dry, desert landscape, providing continuity throughout and adding deep, rich color that doesn't otherwise exist there.
More:
Lay of the Landscape: Modern Garden Style
Luxuriate in the Calm of a Minimalist Garden
More:
Lay of the Landscape: Modern Garden Style
Luxuriate in the Calm of a Minimalist Garden
Ideabook published on Aug. 27, 2012.
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When the subject is Cor-Ten, I can't neglect to mention the work of Brazilian artist Amilcar de Castro (see image below).
Caren Queiroz
http://www.rotsenfurniture.com
Great material that is both cost effective and highly durable.
I have used construction grade steel ( versus Cor-Ten) in my own garden for terracing and planters. I've also recently used it to great effect in a project in Ft Worth, TX to create retaining walls. I'm attaching pictures of this project.
Our company is David Rolston Landscape Architects and our web site is www.dallasgardens.com
Galeria Miguel Rio Branco:
"Located in a sloped site surrounded by the forest, this pavilion redesigns topography to diminish the visible mass of the building, while defining a cantilevered structure that visually floats over the terrain."