Interesting Industrial Materials: CorTen Steel

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Cor-Ten steel is the trademarked but common name for steel in which various alloys are added to create a layer of rust on its surface. Also called weathering steel, this oxidized surface eliminates the need for paint or some other weatherproofing treatment. It also gives steel a unique appearance embraced by artists (Richard Serra, in particular) and architects alike. The material first found application in capital-A architecture in the 1960s, with sizable buildings like the Ford Foundation in New York City, the Time-Life Building in Chicago and, naturally, the U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh (U.S. Steel Corporation holds the Cor-Ten trademark).

In contemporary architecture the scale of application isn't so grand, finding its way in the occasional cultural or academic building and into residential structures both urban and rural. Its heavy and industrial appearance means that the material will be found in suburban contexts, if at all, in a pared down manner — more often as a landscape feature than a house's cladding. Many times patinated copper can be mistaken for Cor-Ten steel, and vice-versa, but in general copper retains some of its green, while Cor-Ten consists of shades of brown and orange. Below are a variety of Cor-Ten steel applications that illustrate the material's singular appearance.

This house, according to the architects, "presents raw, honest materials appropriate to the grittiness of the Venice [California] environment." The corner lot is defined by a wall composed of various materials, each one reiterated in the house's design. Walls of Cor-Ten steel are visible behind this wall and retractable awnings hang on a steel frame. A closer look Reveals that the Cor-Ten volume sits next to the swimming pool. The concrete block and wood siding can be found at left; the former extends inside and the latter covers the upper floor. The Cor-Ten gives a splash of color that is highlighted by the gray palette of the other materials. Only the bright orange of the awnings competes with the rust in terms of color.

It should be pointed out here that Cor-Ten tends to stain adjacent materials, especially concrete. I'd be curious if this homeowner has any issues with the rusty steel on the concrete slab next to the pool.