Beyond Natural Materials: A New Palette for Architectural Steel

Copper: Warmth, Depth and Metallic Character

Copper has a distinctive architectural presence, bringing warmth and richness to both contemporary and traditional material palettes. Its natural luminosity and evolving appearance have made it a popular choice for expressive building envelopes.

The UniCote® LUX Signature Range introduces three copper-inspired finishes: Brushed Copper, Burnished Brass and Rustic Copper.

Brushed Copper features fine linear graining and warm reddish-brown tones that respond subtly to changing light.

Burnished Brass offers a deeper bronze-gold appearance, with soft mottling inspired by aged brass.

Rustic Copper recreates the rich brown tones and gentle surface variation associated with weathered copper.

Unlike natural copper, which develops a patina through environmental exposure, these pre-painted steel finishes provide a manufactured appearance designed to remain more consistent over time.

From statement façades to entrances, soffits and feature cladding, the finishes introduce metallic character while complementing stone, masonry, timber and glass.

Zinc: Refined Texture Without the Patina

Zinc is valued in architecture for its understated appearance, subtle surface texture and ability to complement a broad range of materials.

Two new finishes, Aged Zinc and Anthracite, translate these qualities into the UniCote® LUX Signature Range.

Aged Zinc recreates the muted mid-grey appearance of naturally patinated zinc, featuring fine linear graining and gentle tonal variation.

Anthracite takes a darker direction, combining rich black tones with a subtle zinc-like grain to create a sophisticated contemporary surface.

Both finishes offer the visual appeal of zinc in a pre-painted steel alternative, without relying on natural patination to achieve the intended appearance.

Their neutral tones make them particularly versatile for contemporary façades, upper-storey cladding, entrances and architectural details. They also establish a considered contrast with concrete, stone, timber and expansive glazing.

For projects seeking a zinc-inspired aesthetic, the collection provides greater flexibility in material selection without the specialist installation requirements typically associated with traditional zinc systems.

Timber: Natural Warmth Reimagined in Steel

Timber brings an organic quality to architecture, softening built forms through natural grain, colour variation and texture. Yet maintaining its appearance in exposed applications can require ongoing attention.

The UniCote® LUX timber-inspired collection offers an alternative through four finishes: Charred Timber, Beechwood, Maple and Ashwood.

Charred Timber draws inspiration from Shou Sugi Ban, the traditional Japanese technique of charring timber. Its deep black colouring and pronounced vertical grain create a dramatic surface suited to contemporary façades and feature elements.

Beechwood introduces a lighter expression, with soft honey tones and fine linear grain that bring warmth to restrained, contemporary palettes.

The established Maple and Ashwood finishes complete the collection, offering additional interpretations of natural timber through distinct grain patterns and tonal character.

Together, these finishes reproduce the visual warmth and texture of timber in pre-painted steel, removing the need for routine timber refinishing and helping maintain a consistent appearance across the building envelope.

Suitable for feature cladding, soffits and selected roofing applications, the collection offers opportunities to introduce timber-inspired character without specifying natural wood.

Weathered Steel: Industrial Character, Consistent Appearance

Weathered steel creates a strong architectural expression through its oxidised tones, irregular colouring and industrial character.

However, the natural weathering process can introduce challenges, including uneven patina development and rust runoff onto adjacent surfaces.

The UniCote® LUX Signature Range retains two established finishes inspired by weathered metals: Corten Red and Weathered Iron.

Corten Red captures the warm rust-red and brown tones associated with oxidised steel, creating a surface with visual depth and a distinctly industrial appearance.

Weathered Iron presents a darker interpretation, combining layered tones and subtle patterning to evoke the character of aged metal.

Both finishes provide the visual qualities of weathered surfaces without requiring the steel to develop an exposed rust patina.

They are particularly effective across feature façades, entrances and prominent architectural forms, where their textured appearance can establish a strong relationship with concrete, masonry, glass and timber.