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Aluminium allows architects to bring bold designs to life

Architects have always looked to materials that can take their vision from the drawing board to reality. Materials like steel, concrete and wood have all played an important role in architecture for many years. But now, architects are looking increasingly at aluminium as a material to deliver outstanding form, function, and value for money.

Ullrich Aluminium has been supplying high-quality aluminium products for over 60 years and it is considered one of the best options for architects today because of its strength and durability for building facades.

How is it used in architecture?

Aluminium is an abundant metal that has been used in architecture for decades. It was originally considered as a cheaper substitute to steel, which at the time had become expensive and difficult to secure during World War II. But aluminium soon became more than just a cheap alternative: it is now one of the most common metals found in buildings across the world because architects discovered its inherent properties made it perfect for their designs.

Aluminium’s flexibility makes it ideal for design concepts like curtain walls, where glass panels can be built into exterior building façades without interrupting structural integrity or increasing weight on glass-only structures with no supporting columns inside. Aluminium also provides increased safety from hazards when compared with other materials such as wood or some plastics.

Add to that, wood is currently harder to source in Australia and New Zealand and many architects and designers are rediscovering the benefits of designing with woodgrain aluminium products. Woodgrain products like Ullrich Aluminium’s UlltraBatten and UlltraClad provide the same natural wood context to a project with less ongoing maintenance and care. And from a sustainability point of view, aluminium is arguably the most sustainable metal in the world with the ability to be recycled into other forms after its current use.

The benefits of using aluminium over other materials

Aluminium’s versatility is fast seeing it become a favourite of architects around the globe. Lightweight and flexible it can be manufactured into many different shapes as it can be melted, cast, machined, formed and extruded. It’s this ability through the aluminium extrusion process that can see it turned into many different complex designs for building facades that in the past was thought to be impossible.

Two main design benefits that make Aluminium a must in new designs are:-

Weight

Aluminium is a lightweight material that is around a third the weight of steel making it much easier to transport and work with. Through the alloying process, the strength of aluminium can be changed to either make it stronger or easier to bend.

No rust

With a naturally generated protective coating, Aluminium is the perfect addition to any building or structure. The extremely thin coating is formed when the aluminium comes into contact with an oxidising environment. You can also treat the surface through painting and anodising to further increase the anti-corrosion properties.

Architects and Aluminium

Noted architects around the world are pushing the limits of design with the help of Aluminium. With its bendable properties and different finishes, designs that were thought impossible years ago are being brought to life in amazing architectural masterpieces, all thanks to aluminium.

The stunning Emporium Hotel South Bank has become one of the most awarded hotels in Australia with every inch of the hotel exuding a focus on design. There is no better example of creative use of aluminium than the kinetic screen exterior designed by San Francisco based Ned Kahn. The $4.5 million art installation wraps the lower stories of the hotel and is reminiscent of wearable glomesh fashion. The 'skirt' was manufactured locally by Brisbane-based Craig’s Engineering using aluminium products from Ullrich Aluminium.

aluminium glomesh design

Frank Gehry’s aluminium clad Luma Arles Tower in the French city of Arles has been called the “Stainless Steel Tornado” by American architecture critic Frank Miller. Its inspiration was the rocky outcrops that are found on the outskirts of the city. Covered in 11,000 randomly arranged aluminium panels this shiny architectural wonder shows the versatility that Aluminium can bring to the architecture world.

shiny aluminium cladding

Images courtesy of The Guardian: Photograph: Adrian Deweerdt/Luma and Archdaily.com Photographer: Hervé Hôte.

In contrast to the craggy design of the Lumar Arles is Zaha Hadid’s sleek and futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). A fluid work of style this architectural wonder with its spaceship aesthetic is constructed with 45,000 aluminium panels with the help of 3D construction services. Located in the heart of Seoul, Korea this is an aluminium design taken to the limit and the results are breathtaking. The 85,000 square metre masterpiece took seven years to complete and has four floors above the ground and three below the surface.

sleek aluminium panels

Photograph courtesy of www.indesignlive.sg

How you can use this information to bring bold designs to your own home?

There are many ways you can incorporate aluminium into your home. You could use it for a door, windows or even the whole house. Aluminium is lightweight and durable so whether you’re looking to build an architectural wonder like The Lumar Arles or you want something simple such as new front doors with clean lines aluminium panels would be the material of choice! In addition to our wide range of colours, Ullrich Aluminium has been able to offer customers more textures including brushed, sandblasted edging and powder coating options making it easier than ever before. We also have designs that fit each need whether it’s for security features (anti-theft) or energy efficiency (thermal insulation).

How can Ullrich Aluminium help you find the right solution?

There is so much to learn about Aluminium and with so many applications we at Ullrich Aluminium have a team of experts on hand to answer your questions. Just when we think we know everything about Aluminium we find there is another way to utilise our amazing range of products If you are interested in finding out more about what aluminium can do for your design- give us a call or email and one of our team members will be happy to chat with you!

Posted at 12 July 21

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