Rather than an undesirable consequence of climate exposure, color changes of wooden surfaces may be regarded an interesting and unexploited architectural potential for using climate to produce desired weathering colors on untreated wooden claddings.
This paper describes an experimental study aiming at facilitating the climate as an active parameter in building design with exterior use of untreated wood.
A series of 10 different cladding types was designed using untreated, quartersawn heartwood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Each design was produced in four samples and placed in an aboveground vertical position on walls facing approximately cardinal compass directions.
After 18 months of weathering, coloration of the claddings was recorded and correlated with visualisations of climate angular distribution as obtained from available meteorological data.
Results of the study suggest the possibility of predicting potential color changes from climate observations.
Keywords: Weathering, color change, wooden cladding design
Authors
Hirche M.
Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art, Department of Architectural Design, History and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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