There are alternatives to the use of weathering steel. In Poland, architects Ingarden & Ewy have achieved a similar look to rusted steel with the Pavilion Wyspianski, built in 2000 in Krakow. Here, the rust color is actually a result of special facade bricks which help the building blend with its brick-built Gothic church neighbors. Light filters between the facade’s columns to illuminate the incredible stained glass inside.
Innovative architects have looked to history to come up with sustainable ideas for their designs. Traditional building design varies across the globe, according to the locally available materials and the unique environmental challenges the area presents. The resulting buildings are known as vernacular architecture, and they can give modern architects clues which can be combined with modern techniques to make beautiful, sustainable, and characterful buildings.
