Timet helps create a work of art

Citation

(1998), "Timet helps create a work of art", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 45 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.1998.12845aaf.001

Timet helps create a work of art

Timet helps create a work of art

An architectural masterpiece, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, shows an imaginative use of structural materials and contemporary design worthy of the modern art which will hang in its galleries.

The 32,500m² building, constructed of limestone, glass and titanium cladding, was designed by leading Architect Frank O'Gehry, world famous for his audacious designs.

The design, which features a dramatic exterior of intricate shapes and contours, used titanium supplied by Timet one of the largest manufacturers of titanium alloys, which has European headquarters based in Birmingham.

Some 60mT or 35,000m² of 0.38mm thickness titanium sheet was supplied and edge bent by the cladding company to produce 750 x 1300mm "tiles". These tiles were then clamped onto a tube structure which was then bent to produce the building's distinctive shape.

Originally stainless steel had been considered, however the shine from such a abstract exterior was a potential traffic hazard for drivers on the Puente de la Salve, the road adjacent to the Guggenheim museum.

Titanium, though, was a much more suitable material; not only is it duller but a combination of its unique high-performance properties, such as its strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, enabled designers to create the museum's striking shape.

Titanium's weight, at 4.51g/cm³, is nearly half the density of stainless steel and was a major attraction to the museum's designers. And, because of the materials corrosion resistance performance, titanium is extremely durable and ensures the building's design will last a lifetime. In fact, Timet has offered a 100 year warranty against corrosion.

Titanium's natural low modulus of elasticity gives the metal a high damage tolerance too. This enables very thin titanium sheets to withstand even the toughest of hailstorms without being marked. A combination of these requirements enable a 0.41mm titanium sheet to safely replace a 1.20mm stainless steel sheet at less than one fifth of the weight.

Timet's marketing manager, Chris Hall, said:Using titanium for architectural structure is not new, although this project was clearly unique and very different. Aesthetics, such as texture and reflectivity, were extremely important, however titanium's strength-to-weight, durability and weather resistant features enabled contractors to turn an elaborate building design into a real-life work of art.

Construction of the museum began in 1993 and is now near completion; 3 October heralds the official gallery opening when a selection of the 20th century masterpieces from the Guggenheim collection will be on show.

The opening will complete a Pta10,000 million (£44 million) four year project and is the focal point of the city's regeneration of the former Abandoibarra shipyards, 300,000m² of derelict land on the northern edge of the city centre. The Basque government bodies have committed Pta180,000 million (£780 million) to this impressive urban renewal scheme.

The project is not the first of its type to use titanium as a structural metal. In 1994 Timet supplied titanium strip to roof a luxury complex of beach houses in Pensacola, Florida. Since then, the company's research and development team has continued to work closely with O'Gehry and further titanium's architectural usage.

Chris Hall adds:Titanium's first use was in the form of titanium oxide white pigment. Now, since we produce a commercially pure titanium strip specifically designed for interior and exterior architectural applications and, through working with highly esteemed architects like Frank O'Gehry, we hope to increase its use within the architectural world.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao shows an imaginative use of structural material and contemporary design. The 32,500 m² building used titanium supplied by Timet, the worlds largest manufacturer of titanium alloys, which has European headquarters based in Birmingham

Growing areas of titanium's use are roofing, curtain-walling, flashing and ornamental applications.

For further information contact Timet UK, PO Box 704, Witton, Birmingham, B6 7HR. Tel: +44 121 356 1155.