The more we see of Corten steel in the garden, the more it appeals to us. To everybody else too, apparently—we're suddenly seeing the handsome weathered hardscape material everywhere we look.
We're seeing Corten steel's natural rust finish on fences, raised garden beds, and retaining walls. (Cor-ten is actually the trade name of a material manufactured by U.S. Steel. But, like Kleenex, the copyrighted name is now commonly invoked to refer to a whole category of products. In Corten's case, that's any steel that develops a protective layer of rust when exposed to weather.)
What sets Corten apart from regular steel—and one of its biggest benefits in the garden—is that it becomes harder and stronger when exposed to weather over time. Note that it's not always ideal: Corten isn't well-suited to hot, humid climates, and Corten will leach rust-colored water and stain paths and patios. But in the right setting, Corten is both durable and beautiful, and a reason to embrace burnt orange in the garden:
Retaining Walls:
Above: Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture put Corten steel to use in a modern San Francisco garden designed to accommodate a family with four children. The architect created usable play space and caved paths out of the hillside, using Corten steel as retaining walls. Photograph by Holly Stewart.
Above: This modern house by Wendell Burnette Architects sits at the base of Echo Mountain in Phoenix, where Corten steel retaining walls create a series of terraced beds for succulents. Photograph by Bill Timmerman via Arch Daily.
Above: Nelson Byrd Woltz created a circular cascade of Corten steel retaining walls for a contemporary Connecticut house. For more, see Playing Matchmaker Between a House and Its Site.
Above: Tapered strips of Corten steel divide a Belgian garden into tiers; design by Belgium-based Ars Horti.
Raised Beds:
Above: Edible garden beds edged by Corten steel, in a private garden by UK-based Wilson McWilliam Studio.
Above: A steel-framed planter box for edibles from the portfolio of Austin-based Abode Modern Homes.
Fences and Walls:
Above: A Corten steel wall behind a concrete staircase in the Plaça Vila de Madrid public park in Barcelona, designed by BCQ Architects. The designers also used Corten to stabilize nearby trees.
Above: This ultra-modern Berkeley, CA garden by Mary Barensfeld Architecture was a finalist in the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards. The Corten steel screens provide privacy while letting breezes and leafy bamboo into the space.
Keep browsing garden inspiration in Gardenista Roundup: For Love of Boxwood;Architects' Roundup: 10 Garden Stairways, and Garden Envy: 10 Dramatic Drainage Ideas to Steal.
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