Stainless steel is fascinating. The aesthetic appeal of the surface and the ductility of the material are what make it so fascinating. The wide range of stainless steels that are offered opens up a huge creative potential for architects.

In 1994, Nippon Metal Industry of Japan developed a new roofing material that, because of its natural color, has proven to be more attractive than resin-coated stainless steel. Stainless steel coated with resin has been widely used as a roofing material in Japan because it is maintenance-free and, depending upon the location of the installation, does not create unwanted glare.

Engineers at TriPyramid Structures, Inc. of Westford, Massachusetts, U.S.A., first used various high-strength stainless steels in nuclear reactor plants and then on large offshore racing sailboats, before applying the technology to architectural structures.

Here we will be looking at thermal solar technology, i.e. the conversion of solar energy into heat. Thanks to modern technology and the energy policy of some countries, it now definitely is cost-effective.

The architects of four high-profile architectural/construction projects in Southeast Asia and China chose nickel-containing stainless steel because they wanted a high-quality material that is attractive yet cost-effective.

The building envelope separates inside from outside and also acts as an interface between the building and the urban environment. Its most important functions are to protect against climatic influences, define volume and create a private sphere.

This report reviews the main architectural, building, and construction (ABC) applications and the potential household applications of stainless steel in Japan. Exterior, interior, utility and electrical appliances are reviewed.

These new buildings on the campus of the ETH Zürich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, emerged from a two-stage architectural competition held in 1990/91.

Stainless steel doorbell panels with intercom and video function can be an exciting and interesting contrast on older buildings.

A new type of resin-coated stainless steel, that employs fluororesin as a coating, is being used to cover the Nagoya Dome, an indoor baseball stadium in Nagoya, Japan. The dome is home to the Nagoya Dragons baseball team, of Japan's central league. Built to seat up to 40,500, the Dome, which is also used for concerts and other events, has a total roof area of about 120,000 square metres.

At external junctions or transitions in a building it is necessary to install drainage channels. In this way surface water is directed away from the building structure, thus preventing any damage caused by standing water.

The Thyssenhaus was one of the first steel-framed, curtain-walled, high-rise buildings to be constructed in Europe. Designed by Dr. Ing. Hentrich in 1956 with stainless steel cladding on two sides and aluminum curtain walling on the others, it quickly became a landmark building in Düsseldorf.

Frank O. Gehry, perhaps the 20th Century's most important architect, has won worldwide acclaim for his peculiarly shaped buildings. Interested in new technology and materials he, in many cases, chose to wrap his buildings in stainless steel.

Stainless steel is the dominant metal in this project. It is present in different forms both outside of the building and inside on floors, ceilings and walls.

Type 316 is a molybdenum-bearing grade. This addition gives the better overall corrosion resistance properties than type 304 and higher creep strength at elevated temperatures. Type 316 gives useful service at room temperature in sulphuric acid of concentration of lower than 15% and higher than 85%. It also resists chloride attack and is often selected for use in marine atmospheres.

The past decade has witnessed construction of a stream of deluxe hotels and office buildings in many Asian countries, reflecting the region's still-strong economic power. Previously satisfied with anonymous functional architecture, property-owners now are insisting on high-quality construction materials that improve the appearance of buildings, both inside and out.

Case study on high urban pollution and moderate coastal salt exposure.

These two housing estates have undergone rehabilitation works. The Cité la Motte estate was given a stainless steel finish over most of its facades.

Presentation on the occasion of the conference Creative Architecture with Stainless Steel jointly organised by Euro Inox, Brussels, Belgium and Cedinox, Madrid, Spain, on 12th March 2002 in Barcelona

This excerpt from the ISSF Book of New Applications 2007, gives more information on applications for building exteriors.

The following are included here:

·         Copper-coated stainless steel roofing sheet

·         Marion Island research centre

·         Pyongyang Ryukyung Jungjuyoung Gymnasium

·         Samsung Museum of Art (Leeum)

·         Stainless steel panels

·         Organically coated solar panels

·         New Milan Fair Complex

·         Stratobel

·         Terne-coated roofing sheet for facades

This excerpt from the ISSF Book of New Applications 2006, gives more information on building exteriors.

The following are included:

·         Rainscreen Panel System at The Sage, Gateshead

·         Wales Millenium Centre Cardiff Roofing

·         Roofing and External Wall Cladding

·         External Tunnel Cladding

Contents: - Facts & figures - Architects Brief Design - Background to the Project - Architectural Philosophy - Discussion: Bermondsey Station

·         Stainless steel as a climate protector

·         Stainless steel as an energy saver

·         Stainless steel as developer of design

·         Stainless steel as controller of comfort

A common theme is this new underground environment is that stainless steel is the only visible metal surfaces present in the stations. Since areas accessible to the public are subjected to everyday physical aggression the RATP specified that stainless steel should be used.

Each of the four façades of this building is different in design, in response to the surrounding development and orientation.

By late 2001, the Detroit Metro Airport in Wayne County, Michigan, U.S.A., in partnership with developer and primary tenant Northwest Airlines, will have completed construction of the 185,760 square-metre Midfield Terminal Building.

The solar roof combines the features of a high-performance solar collector with those of a conventional roof covering: it is fully sealed, weather-resistant and highly durable.

The football stadium in Bari, located on the south-eastern outskirts of the city, was built for the World Cup in 1990. In the building the 60 000-seater stadium, security concerns ranked alongside aesthetic and functional considerations.

This irregular oval building has a chalice-shaped façade of black stainless steel opening out towards the top. Viewed from the outside, the long, strip-like windows are integrated into the dominant horizontals of the façade, while on the inside they look like pictures on the sloping wall.

Fixed solar-shading systems filter out a defined proportion of the sun’s radiation. Transparent, lightweight structures provide both shading and protection from glare as well as ensuring even light distribution inside.

The Sony Centre at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin is a complex of seven individual buidlings with a total florr space of 132,500 square metres. This lively urban ensemble comprises Sony's new European headquarters on Kemper Platz, a high-rise office on Potsdamer Platz, other buildings for offices, apartments, shops and restaurants, the historic Esplanade hotel, a film centre, which also houses the Marlene Dietrich Collection and, and entertainments precinct with an IMAX 3D cinema.

Presentation on the occasion of the conference "Stainless Steel for Architectural Visions" jointly organised by Euro Inox, Brussels, Belgium and I.D. Inox, Saint Herblain, France on 15th May 2001 in Paris.

For more than 70 years, stainless steel has provided the external weatherproof component of many of the world's tallest buildings from the Chrysler Building in 1930 to the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur in the 1990s. Advances in materials processing and finishing technology, particularly during the past decade, provide the architect today with an increased range of stainless steels of higher quality, strenght and with a wide selection of surface finishes available for the interior and exterior of buildings.

About Stainless Steel as a building material. What is said, will be illustrated by a project ? a factory ? that was worked on near the town of Nantes and also suggests a variation in the way that stainless steel can be used.

Stainless steel grilles or mesh are an interesting option for solar screens. Excellent weather resistance and an attractive appearance make this material a good choice for such applications.

Atmospheric corrosion, tarnishing, pitting, crevice corrosion, embedded iron, erosion/corrosion, galvanic corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking can all impact the performance and appearance of building materials. This paper discusses all of these issues and describes stainless steel's performance relative to other construction materials.

Web page which describes the main attributes of stainless steel for building facades.

A flash presentation describing the advantages of using stainless steel in the home

The effectiveness of stainless steel mesh as regards to solar shading is legible. The semi-transparent, openwork texture also adds interest and rhythm in the way the changing light plays on its surface.

This publication demonstrates the architectural and functional potential of stainless steel as a roofing material.

Describes standard practices for forming stainless steel into roofing panels and flashings. Contains standard installation practices for fasteners, and clips and detailed drawings of panel profiles, drainage systems, and external and internal gutters.

As a result of the emergence and application of new technologies and Spain's full integration into the European Union, growth has become a truly revolutionary factor of economic, political and social development. It is also the result of our globalised economy. It is within this context that the Spanish stainless steel producer decided to build its new Service Centre in Catalonia. In order to reflect the horizon of the new economy, the owner wanted the project to be an example of the latest industrial architecture.

Stainless steel is increasingly used in Technical service equipment of buildings.  

In architectural applications, stainless steel is often used because of its attractive appearance. Facades, interior cladding, lifts and escalators, handrails and parapets are some of the most typical areas of stainless steel use. The family of stainless steels, however, has more to offer than just good looks. Its technical properties make it an ideal choice for many other building applications, in which additional durability requirements are essential.

This complex and unique building called on the extreme qualities of stainless steel to meet the structural constraints at the same time providing the necessary levels of lightness and transparency.

The embassies of the Nordic countries in Berlin are all gathered together in a single complex: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland each have separate German representations here, alongside a communal reception and information centre.

Rising up over forty storeys, the curtain wall combines convex and inward curving glass and stainless steel panels to provide a smooth, elegant design.

This remarkable house was built as part of a housing exhibition in Tuusula in Finland. Modern construction methods and a careful choice of materials and surface finishes combine to create a distinctive and inspired design. Stainless steel is the star of the piece and it has also lent its name to the house.

Stainless steel is not just one material; there are many different types with different properties and, most importantly, different levels of corrosion resistance. If an appropriate stainless steel, surface finish, and design are selected and it is properly maintained, its appearance will remain virtually unchanged over the life of the building, even if that life is well over 100 years.

IMOA Technical Presentations (Stainless Steel Hand Rails and Street Furniture, Stainless Steel Exterior Wall Panels and Window Frame, Stainless Steel Light Poles)