Copper... a naturally changing surface and an air of permanence ...

BOX tOP
An undistinguished 1970s office building in the Netherlands
has been transformed with a rooftop extension encased by
a transparent copper skin enveloping the original building.
The building owners, Trinité Automation Uithoorn (NL), sought to
express the company’s innovative nature in the expansion of their
office building. As well as upgrading with higher energy performance
and other improvements, the project also needed to create
more space. This was achieved with a rooftop extension providing
a canteen and meeting rooms, as well as a large multi-purpose
seminar room. Here, high, sloping ceilings give a distinctive character
to the internal space.
Integrating Intervention
Externally, the intervention is conceived as a three dimensional
box-like form, firmly integrated into the existing building fabric
and reacting with existing facades – not just a new storey sat on
top. The new box is completely covered in a transparent copper
mesh skin, simply passing over windows, frames and solid walls
behind, providing a seamless continuum expressing the geometric
shape of the addition.
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COPPER ARCHITECTURE FORUM 32/2012
photo: Erik ten Hove
Drawing: Erik ten Hove
Original office building before alteration.
Cross section showing new roof level intervention.
by Chris Hodson
photo:Hans van Nieuwkoop