Copper Architecture Forum 45 excerpt

COPPER ARCHITECTURE FORUM 45 ENGLISH

ELECTRIFYING COPPER

For London’s commuters, travelling on the Victorian railway viaducts running along the south bank of the River Thames creates a moving stage set, revealing exciting perspectives of the urban fabric. The latest addition to this scene, Faraday House, is a golden bolt of energy announcing the regeneration of the iconic Battersea Power Station, as its architects dRMM explain.

Faraday House is a residential building forming part of the first exciting chapter in the regeneration of Battersea Power Station. Sitting on the banks of the River Thames and adjacent to Battersea Park, the building occupies a prime site at the junction of the north-south rail line into Victoria Station and the Thames – and its design responds to this unique setting. It forms the western edge of the overall masterplan, closing the courtyard formed by the adjacent glass building designed by SimpsonHaugh and Partners, and which provides a contrasting backdrop with dramatic reflections.

Photo © Andy Stagg

Photo © Andy Stagg

STRONG CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE

Photo © Alex de Rijke

Our collaboration with SimpsonHaugh and Partners is the result of a competition process demonstrating that two contrasting buildings can be a strong response to the diverse context of the Power Station to the east and the railway to the west. Both buildings occupy a unifying podium providing access, service and a public face with retail, offices, restaurants, gym and pool, plus a secluded green courtyard above.

Faraday House’s organisational principle is inspired by Dutch architect Tejo Remy’s ‘You can’t lay down your memory’ set of drawers and the simple joy of stacking matchboxes. The arrangement of apartments, staggered in plan and section, follows the gentle curve of the railway. The geometry of copper-clad boxes is best experienced from a slow-moving train into Victoria Station – first, unordered like a rock face but then gradually revealing the rational, glazed facades of the apartments viewed side-on.

The 113 apartments are arranged in clusters of three, around five cores, on eight floors. Staircases and lifts are pushed to the façade to give natural light, views and orientation to the residents. The design of the cores maximises efficiency and allows dual aspect apartments to the sides with a smaller apartment occupying the space between. Long views across the railway and the Thames contrast with the intimacy of the courtyard. Each apartment is designed with full-width balconies forming the geometrical expression of the building.

SINGLE MATERIAL

A single material cladding all external facades emphasises the power of the complex geometry. The golden copper alloy ages gracefully without losing its radiance. It is a natural material and, like the brick of the Power Station, it will change over time. The entire building, including recesses and soffits, was set out so the standing seam copper alloy enwraps the volumes, but without complicated detailing and visual distractions. Its trays were hand-formed on site from large coils and contrast with the sharp glass of the neighbouring building.

The manual process and natural material give Faraday House a soft appearance while its shining copper alloy finished forms are a fitting reference to the ‘Faraday shield’ of scientist Michael Faraday, after whom the building was named and, without whose discoveries in the 1830s, power stations like Battersea could not have been created and operated.

Architects: dRMM Facade Consultant: BuroHappold Copper Installer: Prater/All Metal Roofing Copper Product: Nordic Royal

FIRE PERFORMANCE

Copper and copper alloys are classified as A1 (non-combustible material) in accordance with EN 13501-1, the highest ranking available, and, with the appropriate construction, are suitable for tall building facades.

Photo © Alex de Rijke

SIX STAR BRASS

Gently curving, perforated brass solar screens help to define the character of a key community building in Melbourne, Australia, and also to enhance its sustainability – recognised by a 6-Star highest ‘Greenstar’ rating. Architects GroupGSA tell us more.

The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub is a threestorey building incorporating a library, Maternal Child Health Facility and a variety of community focused facilities. These include a new home for the City of Yarra’s International House, a cross-generational meeting place for people of different cultures and ethnicities. The design’s flexibility is manifested by distillation of cellular supporting spaces to the south and open flexible spaces to the north.

AWARD WINNING PROJECT

GREEN BUILDING

"The pattern formed by the perforations, executed by the fabricator, is based on the dappled light patterns from the trees in the adjacent Edinburgh Gardens and is a reference to these trees, and another gesture of bringing elements of the natural environment into the built form"

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

The first floor is divided between maternal and child health facilities, including two playgroup rooms and library. The second floor is focused on community facilities with large divisible spaces, commercial kitchen and shared community office. A rooftop garden, part-shielded by transparent brass screens, connects the northern portion of the second and first floors via a cascading design of planters and informal seating. This garden serves as an extension of both community and library spaces by providing a protected external garden space for interaction and study.

The tapered site presents long facades to the east and west whilst leaving little room for controlled solar access via northern exposure. The design concept overcomes that restriction by introducing a northern facade that is sequentially stepped along the West Axis, allowing controlled northern light to flood the building whilst shielding it from the western and eastern sun.

PERFORATED BRASS SCREENS

The eastern façade allows glimpses into the building – particularly at night – with views out to the public urban space. Much of the glazing is shielded by the curved, vertical screens of perforated brass, each one offset against the next. The pattern formed by the perforations, executed by the fabricator, is based on the dappled light patterns from the trees in the adjacent Edinburgh Gardens and is a reference to these trees, and another gesture of bringing elements of the natural environment into the built form. This theme continues internally with perforated brass applied to internal features such as the reception desk.

Architects: GroupGSA Copper Fabricator: Craft Metals Copper Installer: ARC Copper Product: Nordic Brass Photos: Tom Hutton