Metal Works Wonders With Home Exteriors
Whether they use steel panels, a copper skin or corrugated cladding, these metal home exteriors gleam with ingenuity
Following on the heels of ideabooks that looked at exteriors covered in wood and glass, this one presents a handful of projects that use metal in some interesting ways. In architecture, metal can refer to a wide number of materials with similar properties — metallic glint, hardness, elasticity, magnetism, conduction and so on — but that nevertheless have unique appearances. These include aluminum, copper, steel and zinc. These metals, usually alloyed with other elements, can be left fairly natural, oxidized to add a layer of rust or coated to take on other characteristics. The following projects show a wide variety of applications of metal in residential architecture.
The Logan residence by Jones Studio features walls of metal (this photo and next) as well as concrete and glass. But the golden "aspen leaves” overhead steal the show. They provide shade and a memorable transition between outside and inside.
The metal skin (I'm guessing copper) is articulated in interlocking horizontal bands, constructed much like a standing-seam metal roof. This profile helps shed water; it also creates strong horizontal lines and shadows.
Here's another shot of the golden "aspen leaves" that help shade the space underneath and the interior. Given the full-height glazing and the desert climate, the substantial projection that supports the leaves is a well-considered solution.
Block 19 is a project in Austin, Texas, with 20 residential condos. The design, which is by Bercy Chen Studio, uses colored steel panels as a sun screen for these units. Moving from yellow to red across the building, the panels provide a striking image for the development.
A closer look shows that where the panels merge they work as guardrails for terraces; this is apparent in the left foreground on a couple floors.
From inside these steel panels give a splash of color to the rooms off the terraces.
This project by MGS Architecture puts two residences next to each other, expressing separation through the articulation of the corrugated metal cladding.
The orange corrugated aluminum facade runs horizontally on one side and vertically next to it. The difference between the two residences is heightened by the asymmetry of the openings.
This shot of a tree casting a shadow on the orange surface shows an interesting aspect of the corrugations.
This addition by Pb Elemental features a cantilevered space that is wrapped on three sides by rusted metal panels. The vertical orientation follows the direction of the metal up and over the roof.
The F-R House by Demerly Architects is a dynamic composition of forms that stick up, protrude out and shape themselves to follow the site's topography. With these contemporary forms, metal makes sense for the facade. It is articulated horizontally in alternating thick and thin bands, giving it the impression of stacked stone although it's still clearly metal.
On the opposite side of the jutting area, the horizontal bands run at an angle that follows the sloping roofline. Note the difference between the bands and the edges of the square window. This is an elevation that clearly needed to be articulated with metal.
More:
Materials: The Advantages of a Metal Roof
Hello Again, Corrugated Panels
More:
Materials: The Advantages of a Metal Roof
Hello Again, Corrugated Panels