Rust Never Sleeps

Redcliff House by MAP Architects

Kryptonite is the Man of Steel’s one weakness, but steel itself is far more vulnerable. As any architect knows, this otherwise strong material has a hard time standing up to water and air, which cause it to rust, eating away the metal and causing corrosion and structural damage. But weathering steel, or cor-ten, has a special superpower: It uses rust as a shield. This may not seem as impressive as being able to fly like Superman, but it is extremely useful for architects and engineers.

700 Palms Residence by Ehrlich Architects

The iron in standard steel forms ferrous oxide when exposed to moisture and oxygen. This is what we call rust, typified by its reddish orange color and flakiness. Corrosion in rusted steel occurs because the molecular bonds holding the iron together have been destroyed. Typical steel will flake away to nothing over time. The…