APPLICATION OF NON-FERROUS MATERIALS TO INTEROR DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

ALUMINUM

                Aluminum is the most plentiful type of metal on earth. While it can conduct electricity, it doesn’t do it as well as copper.  It is lightweight and tough at the same time. Due to innovation, aluminum has become easy to produce thus making it cheaper than it was before.   Aluminum has different uses in interior design and architecture. Despite it being lightweight, it is still a strong, flexible, and very easy to handle metal. It is widely used in kitchens as an accent, in doors, trims, and wall panels.  

                There are a lot of advantages of Aluminum. It withstands different climates, easy to preserve, comes in a variety of colors, rust, water and fire resistant, lasts for a long time, and insect proof. However, it also has a lot of disadvantages like it has a tendency to dent, it is naturally noisy, and limiting in the sense where it is less workable than work and design options can’t be as limitless.

COPPER

                Copper isn’t something new in interior design. It has been used years before and is still being used now. Compared to aluminum, copper can be used in more interior design styles from traditional to contemporary. It is cool to the touch despite its warm appearance. Scientifically, copper has been proven to rid of harmful bacteria. It is mostly used in kitchen and bathrooms. It doesn’t matter how you use copper, whether just as an accent or as a defining element, any room can make benefit from the ageless beauty and practical use of copper.

BRASS

                In the 70’s brass have been used extensively in interior design. Together with its other counterparts, which are copper and bronze, brass is coming back to the limelight. Whether it’s polished or unpolished, it is has the effect of making an interior luxurious as well as looking industrial. Despite it looking luxurious, it is actually affordable. It is usually used in modern designs with a monochromatic color scheme and also looks good when mixed with natural materials.

SILVER

                Gone are the days when silver and gold aren’t supposed to be used altogether. These days, silver and gold have been used together and interior design. Just a little bit of mixing and matching makes them able to work together. Actually, like brass, silver has been around for many years and has been used in traditional settings. Back then, silver was quite expensive but thanks to technology, producing silver has become easy and that’s why it’s become cheaper. Just a little bit of mixing and matching makes them able to work together. Silver adds a different glow to a space. It is used in furniture, lighting fixtures, and accessories.

LEAD

                Lead is actually a toxic metal and was used before on a wide variety of products. It can cause serious health complications both to adults and children. Before, lead was used in paint but now, it has been banned since it causes health problems. Lead is a predominantly grey with blue and white metal. When newly cut, lead will look shiny but when exposed to air, it oxidizes and the shine will fade. It is soft, flexible, and adaptable that’s why it is easy to use and form into different shapes and sizes. Lead is used to add weight to the base of curtains, tables, and lighting fixtures due to its denseness.

MAGNESIUM

                Magnesium is a lightweight metal and is used in products that need to be light like in cars and aeroplane construction. It is silvery-white in color and is usually used as an alloy in other metals. In interior design, Magnesium is a construction element and not a decorative material. Magnesium oxide, which is the source of magnesium, is used to make heat resistant bricks for fireplaces and furnaces.

CHROMIUM

           Chromium is also very resistant to corrosion; it is used to coat ferrous metals. It can be applied over another metal as a thin layer to create a luminous finish. We see it used for plating various furniture and joinery hardware items as well as door furniture because of its bright appearance and resistance to abrasion. The refined, reflective quality of chrome makes it an eye-catching design material, especially when it comes to clean-lined, modern furnishings.

There are ways on how to apply chromium, the common one is the chrome plating.  Chrome reflects brighter, clearer, and with less distortion than other finishes, such as paint. For interior design it is mostly used in furniture, specifically, the chair.

TITANIUM

               Titanium is one the great metal; it is one of the most favored materials used for exteriors.  It is very durable and requires a little maintenance. It may be a lightweight material, but in terms of its sustainability, titanium requires a substantial energy to mine and manufacture but has a very long life, and does not release a toxic substance and it’s totally recyclable.

Although it’s favorably used on exteriors, titanium can also be used in interior applications such as the wall claddings, column covers, fascia and anywhere other sheet metal products might be used. However, it is disposed to scratching, fingerprints and surface stains. 

ZINC

           Zinc is a metal throughout the history on roofing, drain boards and table tops. Zinc naturally tarnishes and ages beautifully, uniform gray-blue color. Zinc is standard available in mill finish of reflective silver color or pre-weathered to a dull grayish blue. It can be polished, engraved, and colored using various techniques.

For interior application, zinc can be used in sheet form into countertop, backsplashes, paneling and wall claddings. 

REFRACTORY METALS

               Refractory metals are different. As a group they provide a number of unique characteristics – such as resistance to high heat, corrosion and wear – making them useful in a multitude of applications. However they are strong under extremely high temperatures and are innately hard, making these metals perfect for drilling and cutting tools. One of the primary elements of refractory metals is the tungsten; this metal is widely used in wire filaments, such as those in most of the incandescent lighting used in houses, but it is also common in industrial arc lamps and lighting

APPLICATION OF NON-FERROUS MATERIALS WITHIN USC-TALAMBAN CAMPUS

Windows of AF305, SAFAD made of

Aluminum 

Bulletin board of SAFAD Architecture Department made of

Aluminum 

SAFAD staircase made of 

Aluminum 

Door lock of AF207, SAFAD made of 

Chrome 

SAFAD railings made of

 Aluminum 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

ARTICLES

Kitchen Cabinets Singapore. (2014). Pros & Cons On Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet. Retrieved from http://www.kitchencabinets.com.sg/blog/pros-and-cons-on-aluminium-kitchen-cabinet.html

It's Elemental - The Element Aluminum. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele013.html

Wade, J. (October 9). Copper and Interior Design. Retrieved from www.homeadvisorhomesource.com/copper-and-interior-design

Brandenburg, J. (2015, July 15). Brass Revival - Modern Interiors. Retrieved from www.designloversblog.com/design-and-decoration/brass-interior-design-trend/

Burgos, M. (n.d.). How to use “Silver” color for your Interior Design? |. Retrieved from http://www.manobluedesign.com/mbdesignblog/?p=1323

Gauthier, S. (2012, February 22). Master the Metallic Mix of Gold and Silver. Retrieved from http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1558402/list/master-the-metallic-mix-of-gold-and-silver

Brown, L. (n.d.). Non-ferrous Metals. Retrieved from www.interiordezine.com/finishes/non-ferrous-metals/

Lenntech. (n.d.). Lead (Pb) - Chemical properties, Health and Environmental effects. Retrieved from http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/pb.htm

RSC. (n.d.). Magnesium - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. Retrieved from http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/12/magnesium

PHOTOS

ALUMINUM
Kitchen Cabinets Singapore. (204). Pros & Cons On Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet. Retrieved from http://www.kitchencabinets.com.sg/blog/pros-and-cons-on-aluminium-kitchen-cabinet.html
COPPER
Wade, J. (October 9). Copper and Interior Design. Retrieved from www.homeadvisorhomesource.com/copper-and-interior-design/
BRASS
Brandenburg, J. (2015, July 15). Brass Revival - Modern Interiors. Retrieved from www.designloversblog.com/design-and-decoration/brass-interior-design-trend/
SILVER
Archdigest. (2011, December). Polished Rooms with Furniture and Decor by Hervé Van der Straeten | AD DesignFile - Home Decorating Photos | Architectural Digest. Retrieved from http://designfile.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/herve-vander-straeten
CHROMIUM

Decorating with Chrome Furniture. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.decoist.com/2012-04-16/decorating-with-chrome-furniture/

4 Ways to Chrome Plate - wikiHow. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2016, from http://www.wikihow.com/Chrome-Plate

LEAD

Morrigan, L. (2014, August 19). Lead Exposure Still Exists, And It's Harming Your Health | Leah Morrigan. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/leah-morrigan/lead-exposure-health-risks_b_5512146.html

MAGNESIUM

Quadchemical. (n.d.). Magnesium Nitrate, Light Magnesium Carbonate, Other Magnesium Products | Quad Chemical - Virginia Beach, VA, USA. Retrieved from http://quadchemical.com/magnesium-molecule/

TTITANIUM AND ZINC

Ballast, D. (2013). Interior construction & detailing for designers & architects, issue 9425. Retrieved from www.ppi2pass.com
REFRACTORY METALS

Refractory Metals: Properties, Types and Applications. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.corrosionpedia.com/2/1426/corrosion-101/refractory-metals-properties-types-and-applications

TITANIUM

Titanium-Zinc wall tiles with metal effect INTERIEUR LINE by RHEINZINK Italia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/6179/titanium-zinc-wall-tiles-with-metal-effect-interieur-line-rheinzink-italia.html

ZINC

Interior Applications |Metal Paneling|Zinc Kitchen Countertops - MetalTech-USA - Metal Fabricator and Distributor in Atlanta. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.metaltech-usa.com/interior-applications.htm

REFRACTORY METALS

SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN | Duro Metall GmbH. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.schweissen-schneiden.com/joining-cutting-surfacing/exhibitor-list/detail/exhibitor-N29NcGlDUkZhbEhockR2TlBCako1dz0