Corten as art: Terra Nova project on Platonova, 20B
Terra Nova's masters have completed a major art project. A decorative panel made of weather-resistant steel (corten) has been installed on the façade of the building at 20B Platonova Street — a large-scale work that combines architecture, technology and art.
This project was the result of many months of preparation and complex technical implementation. The panel has large dimensions and is made using high-precision laser cutting, which required pinpoint accuracy at all stages - from 3D modeling to final installation. The characteristics of the material - its weight, oxidation characteristics and unique behavior in the external environment - made the project a real challenge even for an experienced team.
What is Corten?
Corten is a special type of steel that develops an oxide patina over time. Visually, it resembles “rust”, but in reality it is a durable and protective layer that is resistant to moisture and atmospheric influences. Thanks to this, the panel will naturally change over the months, acquiring deeper, richer shades from ochre to amber-terracotta. It is a metal with a living nature, changing with time and light.
Artistic concept
The panel ornament, developed by Terra Nova art director Anna Redko, is in tune with the drawings she had previously developed on the façade of this building, which displayed ideas of quantum physics, the penetration of sound into space, string theory, wave-particle dualism, metaphysical ideas, and the interaction of bodies with them. Mythical characters were added to the corten drawing: the guardians of the forest, sky, and earth. Light passes freely through the openwork pattern, cut with high precision. It creates a dynamic play of shadows on the façade of the building.
Technical features of implementation
  • Material: weather-resistant steel (corten) with a sheet thickness of 1.5 mm
  • Area: 156 sq.m.
  • Installation: hidden fastening system
  • Design and installation: 2 months of 3D modeling and approvals
  • Weight of the structure: more than 5000 kg
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223027, Republic of Belarus, Minsk region,
Minsk district, Kolodishchansky s/s, 153,
area of the village Yukhnovka
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