Copper should certainly be a consideration when developing a health and wellness environment. It is the extraordinary metal that detoxifies, soothes and has a wealth of wonderful properties. Here are some factors that will inspire you to choose to work with copper over any other metal.
A Natural Healer
Our connection to copper dates back to prehistoric times in which it was worked by the hand of early man and used as spearheads or formed into jewellery. Copper was known as the healing metal across early civilisations, using it to enhance energy and cleanse both the body and mind. In particular the metal is known to help you spiritually with inner-vision, channelling, self esteem and optimism. Copper is often used to detoxify, whether this is by simply purifying the water in your bath or being worn on your body to help alleviate rheumatic or circulation problems.
Coming into contact with this natural metal has positive effects on our mental and physical well-being, for spa facilities this could be in copper drinking vessels or by its use in handles, flooring tiles or surfaces.
We are particularly inspired by innovative copper swimming pools which are being installed in health resorts, they have a distinct tonal colour range and offer an earthy swimming experience like no other. As we have developed in every aspect our lives we have found many more applications for copper as its malleability, resistance to corrosion, heat and electrical conductivity makes the metal extremely versatile.
Verdigris Copper Tiles - Image by Indigenous
Colour Palette
Copper can be finished to a warm and comforting glow of pink hues which compliments subtle and airy colour schemes, light woods and contemporary spa and wellness spaces. It can also be left to tarnish over time to a variety of browns and umbers. In its raw state it has a colour that works well with rustic and organic spaces styled with reclaimed timber and rocky surfaces. Where brass is commonly used for luxury facilities copper can replace it for a truly elegant or textured design statement as seen in the resorts above with the use of tiles or surfaces.
Antimicrobial Copper
One of the reasons that we believe copper is the perfect material to use in health and well-being interiors is that it is naturally anti-microbial. This means that copper prevents the growth of bacteria and kills harmful germs which keeps communal areas, treatment rooms and well used surfaces such as handles germ free. Copper is starting to be used in hospitals across the World as it has been scientifically proven to kill 99% of bacteria once contact has been made with it.
With the growing concern over sustainability hanging over the design industry it is great to know that copper has the longest recycling history of any material known to civilisation. It is estimated that 80 percent of all mined copper during the past 10,000 years is still in use somewhere today. Estimates also reveal that 33 percent of today’s world annual copper demand is supplied by recycled copper.
Water Purification with Copper
Copper is malleable and resistant to rust so traditionally it has been the most used metal for directing flowing water. Far more interesting than this is its practical uses for its 'is its magical ability to purify water'... Yes that is correct, it is said that drinking and bathing in water that has been held in or passed through copper has many health benefits.
The age-old practice of resting water in copper basins has been scientifically is proven to have positive effects. The cleansed water is proven to strengthen the immune system, fight ageing, boost skin health along with many other benefits. That is why we believe converting your bathroom or wellness space to natural copper fittings is a clever move and not just for design reasons.
Outdoor Features
We find the use of copper in landscape gardening a great inspiration - from weathered verdigris surfaces or as a well-suited sculptural material. During our exhibition at 100% Design Show 2019 in Olympia London we displayed a handcrafted water-feature as our centre piece which was lacquered with marine grade lacquer to retain its polished finish.
The video above shows the feature with exposed piping which allows the viewer to watch the water trickle down into a labyrinth of pipe work and out into a butler sink. The circular flow of running water had a calming effect on visitors who passed by our stand and came to sit for a moment in the bench opposite. We are available to create water-features for bespoke clients for both indoor and outdoor locations.
If you are looking to use copper in your health and wellness project then you may find it interesting to read about its many uses and developments on the Copper Alliance website https://copperalliance.org.uk.
We handcraft our pure copper homeware products in our Brighton workshop and we are constantly exploring new techniques with this metal and design concepts in our workshop. To read more about our innovation process, follow this link or if have a bespoke request then you can contact a member of our team directly.
