Long traditions
Copper was one of the first metals used by man and is one of our oldest building materials with exceptionally long-life – demonstrated over hundreds of years.
Realizing designs in copper
Modern architects have focused on copper as a layer covering entire surfaces in order to enhance buildings’ form and maintain material continuity.
Natural beauty
Copper is a beautiful, durable and timeless material with unique properties and performance benefits. Available in many shades of colour as well as many lively surfaces.
| Location | Moscow, Russia |
| Year | 1796, finalized 2005 |
| Material | Nordic Green |
| Designer | Matvey Kasakov, Mikhail Posohin |
| Location | Hamburg, Germany |
| Year | 2015 |
| Material | Nordic Royal |
| Designer | Trapez Architektur |
| Location | Helsinki, Finland |
| Year | 2011 |
| Material | Nordic Green |
| Designer | LPR-architects Ltd |
Uniqueness of copper
Long life-time
Copper is a beautiful, durable and timeless material with unique properties and performance benefits. There are some copper roofs which are around 350 years old.
Formability
Copper can easily be formed mechanically or by hand, on site or in the workshop, to suit virtually any three dimensional shape – including complex curves and details.
AE oxidisation and patination
When exposed to the climate, copper surface begins a natural process, which is dependent upon local environmental conditions, orientation and inclination of the surface.
| Location | Linköping, Sweden |
| Year | 1408–1420, restored 1967 |
| Material | Originally Standard Copper |
| Designer | Helgo Zettervall, Carl Hårleman |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Year | 2017 |
| Material | Nordic Brass |
| Designer | Architects GroupGSA |
| Location | London, UK |
| Year | 2017 |
| Material | Nordic Bronze |
| Designer | Dow Jones Architects |
Copper’s environmental profile
Essential for all life
Copper is a naturally-occurring element in the environment. It is present in the earth’s crust, in oceans, lakes and rivers, from minute trace element levels through to rich mine deposits.
Recycled raw-material
All of our architectural copper products are manufactured by 100% recycled raw-material. Copper’s ability to be recycled repeatedly, without any loss in performance, is an important sustainable benefit.
Environmental aspect
Today, around 50% of Europe’s copper demand is met by recycled material. It has been estimated that at least 65% of all copper ever mined is still in use, or available for use, today, having been recycled over and over.
| Location | Svalbard, Norway |
| Year | 2006 |
| Material | Nordic Standard |
| Designer | Jarmund Vigsnæs arkitekter |
100% of copper is recyclable which makes copper a perfect building material for sustainable world
Copper can be recycled over and over with no loss of quality
Discover
Nordic Copper
In addition to Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise pre-patinated copper, other Aurubis ranges include Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidized copper offering lighter or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer. Aurubis copper alloys include Nordic Brass – now available pre-weathered – Nordic Bronze and the innovative Nordic Royal with a long-lasting golden colour. An extensive choice of Nordic Décor mechanically applied surface treatments is also available, particularly suited to interior design.
