Cor-ten Architectural Siding
Also known as “weathering steel” the trademarked product Cor-ten has become prominent in progressive architecture here in North America. Cor-ten was originally developed from a group of alloy steels which eliminate the need for finishing or painting. The product develops a thin skin of rust which actually protects the inner layers of steel from the elements. This skin continues to rust and weather over time and achieves different appearances depending on the environment, location and exposure. Cor-ten steel is available in many structural cross sections as well as plate and corrugated panels. Technical data on Cor-ten can be found here. Although Cor-ten has been used since the 1960’s in applications of structural necessity and high exposure it has only come to prominence in the architectural industry within the last decade. We’ve rounded up 16 residential projects in North America that use Cor-ten as an exterior skin – in some applications it is the actual envelope, in others it is applied as a rainscreen. Let us know about your favorite Cor-ten projects out there.
829 Greenwich in Manhattan by Matthew Baird Architects, 2005
The facade includes a 40 foot tall Cor-ten steel plate
Mad Park in Seattle by Vandeventer + Carlander, 2007
The Cor-ten panels clad the service functions of the house
Montecito Residence in California by OSKA, 2007
The Cor-ten panels are also used for fire resistance
Delta shelter in Mazama Washington by OSKA, 2007
10’ x 18’ Cor-ten “shutters” which can be rolled closed
Weathering Steel House in North York, Ontario by Shim-Sutcliffe, 2000
Cor-ten sheets are used as cladding and Cor-ten structural members form a bridge across the water element
700 Palms Residence in Venice California by Steven Ehrlich Architects, 2005
The Titan in San Diego by Jonathan Segal
The overall geometry keeps the Cor-ten panels to typical and conventional shapes and sizes
The Prospect in San Diego by Jonathan Segal
While some of the structural steel is Cor-ten the exterior is said to be of typical steel just rusting away. There is a very nice blog post on this project here.
T-House in Wilton New York by Simon Ungers & Tom Kinslow, 1986
The Cor-ten envelope was prefabricated and shipped to the site in three pieces
Camano Island Cabin in Washington by Terry Hunziker & BUILD llc, 2004
The project uses flat Cor-ten sheets and corrugated Cor-ten panels
1603 Random Road in Lawrence Kansas by Studio 804, 2001
Desert Nomad House in Tucson, Arizona by Rick Joy, 2005
[Photo by Mark Skalny]
Tubac House in Arizona by Rick Joy, 2001
Gazzano House in London by Amin Taha
Ten Broeck Cottage in Columbia County New York by Messana O’Rorke Architects
Ocean Beach Residence in San Francisco by Aidlin Darling Design
57 Comments
Other Links to this Post
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Cor-ten steel siding for the contemporary home « The Hungry Architect — December 24, 2008 @ 7:08 am
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we have siding! | SIPs House Portland — March 6, 2009 @ 9:11 am
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[PH]od = Passivhaus + pod « brute force collaborative — May 25, 2010 @ 2:22 am
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brute force collaborative » [PH]od = Passivhaus + pod — December 21, 2010 @ 9:44 pm
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Corten linky « WorcesterModern — April 22, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
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Summer Answers! | Chicago Detours Blog — August 23, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
By mike, March 26, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
yes yes. it’s really nice stuff. i was just in san diego. the jonathan segal stuff isn’t weathering too well, the titan is leaching all over the place, staining everything in sight. v+c’s mad park is not one of the finer projects they’ve done, unfortunately.
a supplemental list from recent research for a side project…
archea assocaiti: http://www.archea.it/uploads/progetti/011.jpg
gigon_guyer, Kalkriese Archaeological Museum:
http://www.floornature.com/worldaround/img_magazine/wr143_1_popup.jpg
OMA, Guggenheim Hermitage: http://www.rex-ny.com/media/20070906045807_guggenheim-las-vegas-04.jpg
sean godsell, st. andrews house:
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/project/uploaded_files/720_HOTY%20St%20Andrews%20Beach%20House.jpg
hild und k, haltestelle Landshut:
http://coolboom.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/bus-shelter1.jpg
h&dem, caixaforum:
http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/1884800925_dsc05419.jpg
carlos ferrater, jardin botanico:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1061/1442234207_18bd1f8b93.jpg?v=0
thomas heatherwich, east beach cafe:
http://static.wallpaper.com/images/98_east_beach_cafe_am180607_f.jpg
steven holl, planar house:
http://www.stevenholl.com/media/files/319/ECDT1823—W-PROJECT-HORIZO.jpg
steven holl, school of art and arch. iowa univ:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/166124933_a8a7cabb76.jpg?v=1150699693
jim jennings, soma house: http://www.jimjenningsarchitecture.com/images/soma_house/soma_house01.jpg
Sebastián Irarrázaval, la reserva:
http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cpgarq/albums/userpics/10001/reserva04.jpg
tezuka architects, Matsunoyama Natural Science Museum:
http://www.architecturalreviewawards.com/ard/ar+d2004/ARDLowres/Commended/Tezuka4.jpg
la dallman architects, ravin house:
http://www.archinect.com/gallery/albums/userpics/construction12.jpg
blankstudio, xeros residence:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/modernlover62/ALBUM%202/ALBUM%203/8-17.jpg
richard bauer studio, meinel optical sciences:laboratory http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/0112/0112n_harch4_meinel_b.jpg
sarah wigglesworth, cremorne riverside center:
http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/007_im.jpg
and locally:bellan office on 1st ave S.:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1342/1352222929_46d148774c.jpg?v=0
hutchison & maul, dow metal shop:
http://honorawards.aiaseattle.org/files/01_94.jpg
place architects, diva:
http://www.placearchitects.com/_images/diva-2.jpg
By spark, March 27, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
I think Cor-ten is an awesome product. I know several of the students I’ve gone to school with favor this product as well, having seen it specified on several projects. However, I think it also has a downside, depending on the environment it is used in. For example, I’d be interested in seeing the sidewalk and street adjacent to the 829 Greenwich building. This stuff stains really bad. And depending on who you ask, this can be a positive side effect or a negative one.
The others you have shown are great though. I’m a big fan of Rick Joy anyway and think the Cor-ten is more than appropriate for Arizona’s landscape. The aesthetic of the structure in the landscape is very similar to his rammed earth structures. I love the color of both.
By buildllc, March 27, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Phil of Kaplan Thompson Architects emailed with a very nice Cor-ten project located on an Island in Casco Bay just off the coast of Portland, Maine. Check it out here:
http://www.kaplanthompson.com/firecommandstation.php
By buildllc, March 27, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
Spark – that’s a very good point, Cor-ten continually stains the materials around it which, as you point out, can look really good or really bad. We’ve found that grass and earth are good products to install below Cor-ten.
By buildllc, March 27, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
Mike – WOW! Phenomenal links. I think you work harder on this blog than we do! Love that Jim Jennings house.
By mike, March 27, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
i’d start my own (blog) but there’s not enough time in the day! jim jennings is amazing. i visited his studio a few years ago, and was enthralled by the camera obscura on his front door
http://jimjenningsarchitecture.com/images/brush_place/brush_place05.jpg
he’s also beastly with the beton.
By Bob-o, April 2, 2008 @ 8:50 am
Here’s a cool one that uses corrugated panels as a cladding by architect Dustin Ehrlich:
http://materialicio.us/2008/02/21/house-on-wildcat-creek-dustin-ehrlich/
By mike, April 8, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
found another interesting project in iceland.
at least, i think it’s corten…
http://arkitektur.is/verk/sportsakademia/sportsakademia-ljosabord/ljosabord.html
By sean, May 15, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
i was wondering if anyone knew of a good source where i could obtain corten. if you do it would really help. we are trying to use it on the interior and exterior of a building and are haveing trouble finding a good distributor.
thanks!
By Andrew, May 15, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Sean – try Corrugated Metals Inc. out of Chicago: http://www.corrugated-metals.com
By sean, May 16, 2008 @ 8:18 am
thank you! i also found another place too that was really helpful!
The A588 & A572 Steel Company
1470 50th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35212
205-595-6600
fyi
Apparently a588 and a606 is the real name for “corten”
By martbern, July 8, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
try reclametal in colorado – recycled rusting steel in flat sheets or corrugated
By carlyle, August 13, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
andrew & kevin:
one of the girls over here was looking for some core ten images and stumbled onto your site- you guys are totally into everything!!!
see you gys soon,
carlyle
BTW: thanks for the book!
By Trew, August 15, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
OK, I’m not an architect or in the building trades- just a homeowner who was thinking about using core-ten for siding in Eastern New York. I love the look of core-ten for my home, but whatever I use will be subject to extremes of heat and cold, as well as salt sea air, rain and snow, so I wanted to do some research.
Well, I just found this from the New York Dept. of Environmental Protection:
“In the 1980′s the [NYS] Department of Transportation initiated the use of A588 steel “rustic” guide rail. Unfortunately, through extensive field observation and inspection, NYS DOT has learned that this product deteriorates at an accelerated and unpredictable rate. This circumstance results in an unacceptable safety condition and therefore NYS DOT has discontinued the use of A588 steel guide rail. NYS DOT recently completed an intensive multi-year study to assess the rate of deterioration and look for suitable alternative “rustic” guide rail products that would satisfy aesthetic and safety concerns in a practical and affordable manner. No alternatives have been discovered that are brown, safe, practical and affordable. Therefore, most A588 steel guide rail will be replaced with grey galvanized guide rail.”
source
http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20071226_not0.html
And then from the NY State Department of Transportation: “This Engineering Instruction announces the Department’s decision to cease using A588 (rustic, Corten, “self-oxidizing”, or “self-weathering”) steel for highway guide railing and barriers…A588 steel has not resisted corrosion as was initially expected when the product was first used for guide rail. Some localized moisture, salt, shade, and shelter conditions have resulted in A588 rail deteriorating significantly faster than at other locations. The Department has strived to replace deteriorated A588 rail when its deterioration becomes apparent, but it is often difficult to determine whether installed A588 rail is deteriorated and, if so, the degree of deterioration. To ensure that guide rail will function adequately over the long term, the Department has decided to eliminate the use of A588 steel for highway barrier systems.”
Source:
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/main/business-center/consultants/forms-publications-and-instructions/engineering-information-issuance-system/ei-repository/ei07029.pdf
Apparently the deal is this:
NY tried to use A588 brown steel for guard rails in scenic mountain areas, but found out that it didn’t last as long as galvanized steel. Granted, this usage requires that the steel maintain enough strength to keep speeding cars from failing off cliffs- a little more wear and tear than one needs from siding, but it does make me dubious of the 80-year claim of Core-Ten manufactures. Likewise the key is that deterioration is hard to spot(the whole thing is rusty anyway, right?)
Therefore I think I’m going forego core-ten and keep looking for the right siding.
By buildllc, August 18, 2008 @ 11:15 am
Trew – great information. Thanks for sharing the homework you’ve done with the rest of us. Definately keep us posted on what you decide on for your siding system. A galvanized rainscreen could look very sharp if designed correctly.
By Mhairi, August 19, 2008 @ 7:31 am
Hi – this thread is amazing!!! Totally detailed research – excellent! I am in Scotland, UK, and am trying to detail a Cor-ten tower for a new-build house. I have found a local supplier of sheet weathering steel but they don’t give advice on fixing details, etc. Does anyone know of a good source of info. – preferably UK based
– where I can get info. on the detailing side of things as opposed to the end result?!
Thanks!
By buildllc, August 27, 2008 @ 8:02 am
Mhairi – you might take a look at the “in DETAIL” series of books by Birkhauser press. They just came out with a book on building skins. Some of their other books may also cover rainscreens such as “Single Family Houses” and “Cost Effective Building”.
By BG, September 20, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
FYI: Rick Joy’s Tyler House in Tubac, AZ does not use Cor-ten steel siding. According to Rick Joy, in the desert climate the added expense of Cor-ten is not necessary. Standard carbon steel siding rusts on the surface but does not rust through.
By Randy, October 28, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
I’m interested in the application of cor-ten for the actual envelope of a residential house in Washington State. If anyone has any insight regarding how the panels are secured (to one another and to the house itself)-much in the spirit of the Camano Island Cabin featured above- I’d really appreciate any information.
thanks.
By buildllc, October 29, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Randy – the Cor-ten panels on the Camano project are attached to vertical runners behind with a blackened square drive wood screw. The Panels were pre-drilled in such a way that the screws could be flush mounted. The panels are not attached to each other – you’ll want to include a gap between panels for the expansion and contraction of the material.
By Bruce F, November 25, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
I’d like to add my house to your list. And yes I have an ego.
Here’s a link
In case the html doesn’t take -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/green_roof_growers_1730/2175934485/in/set-72157603652656573/
Flickr has a Cor-ten group pool full of pictures.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/309747@N24/pool/
Plenty of info and links
By Lee Johnson, December 12, 2008 @ 11:01 am
You can’t be very modern if you are still calling women “girls”! What century are you from?
By Darin, December 16, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
hello,
fantastic blog! not sure how you find time to run a business and keep a blog this good going.
at any rate, i have a further question about fastening cor-ten to your building. you said you used blackened square drive wood screws. we’re looking at using some panels on a project in portland and are concerned with dissimilar metals….exactly what material is the fastener made of?
check out our project:
http://www.sipshousepdx.com
By Henri, January 19, 2009 @ 7:29 am
See the link below about weathering steel, with projects details at the bottom of the page:
http://www.constructalia.com/en_EN/products/productos_final1.jsp?idApli=251068&idProd=295206&sTipo=1
By IceNine, February 10, 2009 @ 7:07 am
What gage is commonly used for cor-ten siding?
By buildllc, February 10, 2009 @ 9:41 am
IceNine – I don’t think Cor-ten is used often enough to have standards but we typically use something between 11 gauge (1/8″) and 16 gauge (1/16″). An “oil-canning” affect is typically a concern with thinner gauges of any steel, including Cor-ten.
By IceNine, February 19, 2009 @ 11:12 am
Thanks for the advice!
Any thoughts on lapping the panels? Both horizontal and vertical joints, with some kind of sealant between panels at the vertical joints to form a closed rain screen?
By buildllc, February 19, 2009 @ 11:28 am
IceNine – we like rain screens because they allow the house to breathe a bit. We haven’t designed or built a “closed rain screen” and unfortunately don’t have any suggestions on that one.
By Mattie, February 27, 2009 @ 8:45 am
Do you have a suggestion for or experience dealing with the effects of Cor-ten bleeding when installed above windows.
By buildllc, February 27, 2009 @ 10:33 am
Mattie – although not preferable, Cor-ten inevitably ends up above windows from time to time. Regardless of the detailing the windows will most likely get stained over time. You can use aluminum windows with a bronze finish which hides the stains better. We also try and inset the windows as much as possible. Either way I’d give the homeowner a heads up so that it’s not an unpleasant surprise later.
By darin dougherty, March 6, 2009 @ 9:14 am
Excellent post!
We just started installing Cor-ten on a house we’re building in Portland:
http://www.sipshousepdx.com
We posted the link to our site earlier in this thread, but I just posted some images of the siding!
By Anastasia, July 23, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Excellent information!!
I’m not an architect or designer or builder — just married into a family of them… so…
Just wondering if anyone has used cor-ten as an outdoor fireplace and what the heat transfer would be like to the material next to it.
The plan is for us to have a an exterior cor-ten wall with a built-in fireplace. I’m concerned that the whole wall may heat up.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for all the great links!!
By Build LLC, July 25, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
@ Anastasia – the cor-ten will definitely heat up. What is the material next to it?
By Suzanne, June 24, 2010 @ 8:43 pm
I was part of Studio 804 that built this house… it was interesting to come across it in your blog.
By Tristan, August 18, 2010 @ 6:15 pm
We are using weathering steel on a project and our client is concerned about staining. He wants to seal the metal with a clear sealant. We don’t think this is a great idea. As a material that is intended to naturally weather and be maintenance free and needs time to form the protective “rusted” layer, the thought of putting a clear sealant on it seems like a horrible idea. Every image that I could find in your links, as well as other projects I’ve come across, show no sign of staining on the concrete or other materials. This certainly could be because the photos are all from early on in the project or just after completion. I’d love to be able to show the client that his concern of staining is a non-issue and that sealing the metal is a bad idea and will require additional maintenance. I worked for a facade company that produces weathering steel products and their research showed that in most cases, when Cor-ten was shown to weather prematurely it was because it was placed in a situation that allowed moisture to collect behind the system, effectively rusting from the inside out. In a rainscreen application these conditions are effectively eliminated or reduced. I’d be happy to track down that information if there is interest. Here’s the company you can get weathering steel rainscreen systems: http://www.qcfacades.com
By WorcesterModern, April 22, 2011 @ 7:26 am
We’re hoping to build a house with a facade of welded Corten sheets (3mx1m sheet size). Anyone have experience of this – rather than the panelised option? Any thoughts on the minimum thickness of the sheet, especially with regard buckling of the material during welding. Our architect thinks he has the fixing system sorted, but he hasn’t actually spoken to any fabricators yet…
By Build LLC, April 22, 2011 @ 7:36 am
@WorcesterModern – we’ve never done an application that isn’t panelized. The panels typically have a 1/8″ or 1/4″ gab between which allows for expansion and contraction of the panels in various weather conditions. Without this gap we’d be concerned with the material expanding/contracting too much. How will the method of attachment to the sheathing account for this movement?
By WorcesterModern, April 22, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
Thanks for the reply. Our idea is based on a welded Corten building at Snape Maltings in Suffolk, England. See this link to Architect’s Journal for pics etc. http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/small-projects-2010/the-dovecote-studio-snape-maltings-suffolk-by-haworth-tompkins/5213067.article
I can’t comment on the expansion as I’m only the Client! I take your point though, and will make sure it’s considered during detailed design. Fabrication on site is also a tricky question… No doubt once our architect speaks to someone who could build this, he’ll have a better idea of feasibility.
By cement board panels, June 13, 2011 @ 1:37 am
the designs of the buildings caught my attention. the panels added artistry to the infrastructures.
By David, November 6, 2011 @ 8:44 am
I love the look of the Camano Island Cabin. We are hoping to achieve the same look on an addition to our Seattle house. What did you use for the Corten trim? We have several outside corners where Corten panels will be abutting and need some sort of trim. Its a little hard to see in the pictures. It looks like you’ve used some sort of narrow Corten trim. Any info on what you used and where you found it? Thanks!
By Build LLC, November 6, 2011 @ 10:46 pm
@David -there isn’t any trim on the Camano Cabin. The cor-ten panels are part of a rainscreen system with 1/4″ reveals between panels.
By David, November 7, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Hi Build! Thanks for replying. Yes, I understand that the panels are part of a rainscreen, but it does look like there is a thin strip of corten trim along the edges of the walls. It seems particularly prominent on the top and edges of two lower walls that extend past the roof and enclose the smaller entry. In our case, we’re using the corten as part of a rainscreen as well. We are looking for a way to finish the corners where two panels meet.
By amr, November 7, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
Don’t forget ACCA in Melbourne by Wood Marsh http://www.woodmarsh.com.au/projects/detail/acca/
By Kevin E, November 8, 2011 @ 8:47 am
Hi David,
We used a thicker “cap” of corten at wall edges- I believe it was 3/8″ thick- to provide a stouter appearance than the lighter gauge sheets. This seemed to be the best way to cap the wall ends.
By David, November 10, 2011 @ 1:54 pm
Thanks Kevin! Where you able to source those some where locally, or did you just fabricate them yourselves? Thanks again!
By Build LLC, November 10, 2011 @ 2:55 pm
@ David –try Corrugated Metals Inc. out of Chicago: http://www.corrugated-metals.com
By Stephanie, January 3, 2012 @ 10:56 am
Great post! Do you have close up photo or detail of the countersunk fastener on the Camano Cabin?
By Build LLC, January 3, 2012 @ 11:03 am
@Stephanie – unfortunately we don’t have a close-up photo of the connection.
By Timothy, January 10, 2012 @ 5:14 am
I have a design company in Richmond Va. I just completed a project using Cor-ten as siding. The state also uses cor-ten as guard rails as well. We dont have the hash winters as you do in NY, I believe that is why the state of NY has stopped using it. It can be sealed simply with a product called Penetrol. The maintenance issue on roadways and with the amount is probably anotehr negative for northern states. although the oldest arched bridge in america is made with cor-ten. For siding. your fine. it will be here long after you are gone.
By JGriff, February 9, 2012 @ 7:18 am
Young architect here trying to detail a rain screen system and come up with a good product for water proofing? Is there a system/product anyone can recommend? This entire assembly is a little new for me here in the southeast (GA) so any direction would be greatly appreciated.
By Build LLC, April 13, 2012 @ 3:23 pm
For anyone looking to source corten steel products, take a look at Central Steel Service out of Alabama. They specialize in weathering steel and carry all sorts of steel products and profiles. http://www.centralsteelservice.com/
Talk to Jay Guyton and tell them BUILD sent you: 800-868-6798