Megatrends in Architecture

Healthy and climate-positive materials actually already play a substantial role in the sustainable architecture of today, as do the re-use of raw materials, thermal insulation, and energy consumption and extraction; these are properties which zinc, a natural material, possesses to a high degree. RHEINZINK titanium zinc convinces with its durability and 100% recyclability, and has proved to be extremely robust against weathering. The CO₂ pollution generated during construction, as well as the energy consumption during extraction and processing, are extremely low. Emissions are reduced to a minimum thanks to state-of-the-art production facilities.

Furthermore, even today, every RHEINZINK product already consists of 30% secondary material. Together with natural surfaces, such as wood, titanium zinc not only forms an impressive and sustainable unit, but also convinces in combination with green roofs.

Stone, wood and titanium zinc were used for the cladding of the 135-room Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Only six months after its inauguration, the building, which impresses with an extraordinary façade of RHEINZINK titanium zinc, was awarded the LEED® Platinum certification. This American/Canadian sustainability certificate pursues the objective of strengthening and promoting sustainable constructions. Different categories, which include the health and well-being of people and the environment, show the environmental impact of the building in respect of sustainable land use, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and air quality in the building, as well as innovation and the design process. With this object, RHEINZINK was able to convince due to its material properties, such as recyclability, a long service-life and low primary energy requirements. Thanks to these sustainable properties, this material with a future is already making a valuable contribution to our responsibility for future generations.

The origins of Scandinavian design can be found in the 1950s in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The Danish industrial designer, Arne Jacobsen, and the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalton, are considered to be the founders of this concept which is based on a democratic approach: great design, not just for the elite. Furthermore, architects and creative individuals created a timeless principle which also conveyed a particular lifestyle: A greater sense of community, the turning to family and friends, a slowing-down of everyday life – all these are factors which not only flow into the Scandinavian feeling for life, but are also reflected in the design.

Traditional, regional themes in a contemporary language of form provided the inspiration for the construction of a detached house in Källby, Sweden. Through the use of RHEINZINK titanium zinc and wood, the developers re-interpreted the traditional Swedish home, adapting it to the demands of today. The materials emphasise the sustainable and self-evident character of the tailor-made building. Durable and maintenance-free, the combination of wood and the RHEINZINK CLASSIC bright rolled surface quality did without spectacular effects in favour of Nordic and elegant purism.

Given the growing demand for residential and commercial space in the wake of increasing urbanization, high-rise buildings are an intelligent and attractive solution for the city of tomorrow. They take up very little space and, thanks to modern technologies, can also meet the growing demands for sustainability and cost efficiency. The façades of the extraordinary Charlottehaven The Tower in Copenhagen were clad with RHEINZINK-CLASSIC bright-rolled, a natural material that develops a protective patina over time. Not only does this material provide a highly elegant appearance, but it is also resistant, durable and very sustainable from an ecological perspective. Zinc helps to conserve resources, because building elements made of this material have an impressive service life of up to 200 years. What's more, it can be fully recycled and reused.

Fresher and cooler air, new habitats for birds and insects, and a feast for the eyes – this is what a greener city can offer its inhabitants. One example of how well RHEINZINK titanium zinc harmonises with green is the Casa Hollywood, a residential building in Turin’s old town. The project developer wanted to not only combine unusual architecture with technical innovation, but also to create added value for the area in terms of construction culture. The architects were determined to use titanium zinc for the individual façade right from the beginning!

The south façade of the building is characterised by a large double-glazed area which floods the interior space with light whilst, at the same time, keeping noise out and ensuring that the rooms heat up less. Together with the highly-insulated north façade, the controlled ventilation system, including heat recovery, the solar thermal system for hot water production, and the use of rainwater for the green terraces, mean that the house has an average energy requirement of just under 30 kWh/m² per year. Attractive, green and sustainable, the Casa Hollywood is a real, environmentally-friendly eye-catcher!

The sustainable strategy of first using existing building fabric as a basis, is reflected in intelligent solutions, such as roof extensions, which provide new living space. A good example of this is a residential and commercial building in Bensberg, dating back to the 1950s which, after renovation, impresses with its modern design language. The massive basement was not only given an extension in a lightweight wood construction, but also a strikingly-shaped titanium zinc roof. This extension was designed not to additionally burden the building too much and, optically, despite its volume, it does not overwhelm the viewer.   

The Rheinzink prePATINA surface, blue-grey, embodies a timeless design which superbly matches the original construction and makes it particularly eye-catching due to the natural patina formation. In addition to these design aspects, the decision to add RHEINZINK titanium zinc also had technical reasons behind it, as the economical building of the fifties led to a relatively low static reserve of the load-bearing walls. To ensure that as little additional mass as possible was introduced, the new storeys are entirely of constructed of lightweight timber which, in turn, required a durable and sustainable, yet lightweight, roof structure.