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2012 Annual Report Building Construction
2012 Annual Report Building Construction
Building Construction by Nigel Cotton
Copper as an object of desire may not be your first thought. However, its various uses, within the built environment, are the most visible demonstrations of copper’s versatility and sustainability. Whether used in small design elements, or in large design concepts, perceptions of copper have changed in line with modern themes — be it natural, environmentally friendly or futuristic. Traditional uses have been overtaken by a fresh, exciting display of copper’s many attributes — whether it is a dome bursting through a school building, an exterior panel flowing through the wall to be part of the internal design, or a complex external surface transforming a traditional building shape into a soft, curvy iconic landmark. Copper’s durability and flexibility of colour, shape and form give the design conscious endless opportunities to experiment with this timeless material. Throughout 2012, various examples of copper in design have been featured in leading media, including Le Figaro, Daily Mail, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Elle decor. End-user campaign expanded to the UK ECI’s innovative “Copper in the Built Environment” (CuBE) campaign represents a strong commitment by the copper industry to encourage and support the
use of its products across the new build and renovation sectors. The campaign, piloted in Germany (Mein haus kriegt kupfer) in 2008, and extended to Italy (Il rame nobilita la casa), Poland (Miec miedz), France (Ma maison mérite du cuivre) and Spain (El cobre crea Hogar) in 2011, was launched in the UK in 2012. The "Come Home to Copper" website was completed in time for the campaign’s launch at EcoBuild, a major London event attracting upwards of 55,000 visitors each year, most of whom are in the building and construction industry, and many of whom are self-builders. Directly targeting homeowners and developers, the CuBE campaign explains the benefits that copper-containing products and systems provide in today’s homes and buildings. It combines emotionally engaging advertisements and articles in print and online media, national web portals and supporting media relations. In 2012, the campaign benefited from two advertising flights in five countries, generating a total of two hundred million opportunities to view. In addition, the program influences the use of all non-electrical copper building construction products by providing copper benefit messages to professional decision-makers in material selection (architects, planning engineers, contractors, regulators, future professionals, investors...). European copper product
fabricators provide professional guidance and support for the program. Copper in Architecture The 32nd and 33rd editions of our flagship biannual Copper Architecture Forum magazine were published in 2012. 25,000 copies in 13 languages were distributed to architects in 16 countries. The host website www.copperconcept.org, which received over 80,000 visitors throughout 2012, is all about inspiring Europe’s architects by making available a range of aesthetic, technical and regulatory content. 2012 saw increased activity resulting from the revision of the Russian website section, outreach to recognised architectural portals, promotion of the European Copper in Architecture Awards, and production and distribution of the Forum in Russian. With 130 buildings added in 2012, the site now has over 2,500 copper building references. New App available on www.copperconcept.org The Hungarian Copper Development Association has developed the first "CopperConcept App" for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. By featuring a regularly
updated collection of the best examples of contemporary architecture, using copper and its alloys, we hope it will become a credible reference for designers seeking inspiration in this segment. Reference buildings are illustrated, along with an architectural description and relevant building data. Using a map capability, users can easily locate reference buildings in the city they are in. Also included are the winners, commended and shortlisted buildings of the biennial European Copper in Architecture Awards, as well as online editions of the Copper Architecture Forum magazine. Copper makes its impact in contemporary design The travelling “Copper in a box” exhibition was hosted by the French Copper Development Association during the famous annual event, the Designer’s Days, in the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris in May. This was a symbolic place for copper, due to the theme — history of techniques — and the proximity to the Arts & Métiers metro station, which is internally clad with copper. This prestigious CuBE exhibition spot displayed, in 8 coloured boxes, 45 copper and copper alloy objects from designers across the world. The exhibit created a dialogue between the
different times and ways of using copper, both as an artistic and an industrial material. The exhibit was displayed by the Italian Copper Development Association for one month at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, and then at the international fair SAIE in Bologna. New designs are continuously being promoted through the dedicated website www.copperindesign.org French "Prohibition Kit" wins Copper and the Home competition First prize in the 2012 International Copper and the Home design competition was awarded to Francesco Morackini of France for his project "Prohibition Kit". The jury’s unanimous decision was based on the graphical concept of Francesco’s design for an alcohol distillery disguised as a collection of everyday objects — a playful reference to the Prohibition Era, when alcohol was banned. The prize ceremony took place at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan in January 2013, an event organised by the Italian Copper Development Association. In this fourth Copper and the Home competition, designers had been called upon to reinvent everyday objects, celebrating and exploiting the aesthetic
and technical strengths of the metal and its alloys. Architects, designers and students of the arts, inspired by copper and its alloys, such as bronze and brass, submitted more than 270 entries in the Professional and Student categories. This is more than triple the number of entries received for the first competition back in 2007. Thanks to its instantly recognisable beauty and extraordinary versatility, copper offers a wide range of manufacturing possibilities and applications including decorative lighting, vases and mirrors, door furniture, interior decoration and dividing walls, and floors and radiators. In addition to the more commonly known and valued properties, such as electrical and thermal conductivity, malleability, ductility and durability, copper is also antimicrobial, meaning it can significantly reduce bacteria, viruses and fungi on contact. New awareness of this inherent property offers designers an opportunity to enhance hygiene around the home, as well as in public spaces and hospitals, where infections can spread rapidly through touch. For more information, visit www.copperconcept.org
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