╳ Copper is a beautiful, yet highly underrated material. Whilst not as ‘sexy’ or minimalist as stainless steel, its patina is a glorious rich pinkish colour. A ductile metal, with very high thermal and electrical conductivity, pure copper is rather soft and malleable, and used most often as a thermal conductor, electrical conductor or building material.╳ As a building material, copper provided an interesting solution for Bernalte-León y Asociados, the architects who designed the copper, concrete and glass ‘Clip House’ in Madrid, Spain. The cool, contemporary home’s striking sculptural design takes shape from copper plates, which are enclosed in vertical panels to form expansive walls which are cantilevered from a bold, vertical concrete backing. The architectural copper artfully wraps around the home’s living areas to provide a fabulous view from the inside out, while offering an interesting aesthetic from the outside as well. Atop, exterior rooftop pathways provide a terrace overlooking the city.
╳ Briefed by their client to create an ‘open-space’ avoiding a division between his professional and private life, the floor plan is mainly based on a flowing dynamic, visually unbroken structure, naturally ensuring the interconnection between the different spheres of activity taking place in the house. And on the outside, the copper ‘walls’ have established a friendly dialogue with the surrounding trees and boundary wall that faces the street. Imagine how wonderful it must be on a chilly Autumn afternoon, when leaves are floating softly down to be greeted by this radiantly glowing house!
