The newly retrofitted Hong Kong Museum of Art features a dynamic exterior that mimics the undulating waves of nearby Victoria Harbour, achieved via the installation of Equitone’s Tectiva range of through-coloured cement panels. An ode to traditional Chinese masonry patterns, the customized aluminum-framed modules are each made from five separate pieces; cut at differing angles, they create shadow joints that enhance the 3D effect. Sound-insulating and resistant to water damage, extreme temperatures, fungi and bacteria, the material has a sanded surface and is available in nine standard colours.
Wrapped in 8,500 custom panels of Lorin Industries’ ClearMatt series of anodized aluminum, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado (designed by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro) evokes a sense of movement fitting for a building dedicated to sport and athleticism. Made by MG McGrath, the lightweight yet extremely durable diamond-like segments were coil anodized so as not to oxidize or scratch, ensuring their longevity; the material also reflects and refracts light to further the three-dimensionality. Offered in a range of finishes, it’s 100 per cent recyclable and low-maintenance.
For a textile company in Foshan, China, Rationale International – Masanori Design Studio devised an exterior that recreates the symmetry of yarn on a loom using slender white-toned aluminum bars. Stretching from the second level to the first, the rigid material appears to billow softly around the building, lifting gently to offer a glimpse inside.
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New takes on aluminum imbue these recent projects, including a Chinese company’s textile-inspired facades, with unique expressions.