Copper cupolas
Los Cabes del San Lucas
Baja California, Mexico
Credits:
Palmilla One&Only, Alan Tricon - owners;
Peter Lu - interior design;
DBM, Mexico - main contractor;
Artkeytechturall, Juan Saldana, Mexico - my direct employer.
Technical details:
1.4 mm half hard copper sheets.
CAD designed to match existing elements (semicircular base and oval stone cornices).
Segments perforated and cut out on CNC punching equipment.
TIG welded, trimmed and finished on site.
About the project.
I worked with Juan once before, on Mandarin Oriental resort near Cancun couple of years earlier.
So when he got this small but involving project on the other side of Mexico, he called me to help him with it.
The two cupolas were replacement to ones lost to fire. They were supposed to be exactly as the old ones, but additional requirements forced me to abandon the original construction method. The new requirement was to perforate the copper with a pattern and illuminate from behind.
The new cupolas were devised as rigid, self supporting shells, made from 1.4mm thick copper, punched out on CNC equipment, then TIG welded.
After initial visit to the site (restaurand Aqua at Palmilla, One&Only resort), to take measures and see the architects of the main contractor, BDM, the preparation stage was conducted in Mexico City.
Email exchange with NY based Interior designer of the project, Peter Lu, to get feedback and approval for the design details.
Ordering the CNC punched copper segments, fabrication of partial assemblies and arranging all we may need for final installation. The copper, too delicate to ship in finished form, was to be welded and finished on site. Then everything was trucked to Los Cabos - theree days trip.
Me and three of Juan's guys flew there to meet the truck.
Few more days of intensive work and the shiny new cupolas were in place.
Lucky shot. Palmilla resort is on the peninsula that touches the left side of the window. I got this photo on approach to
landing in Los Cabos, on my very first flight there.
landing in Los Cabos, on my very first flight there.
This is a photo of the original cupolas. This, together with free hand sketch from Peter, were the blueprints of the work. the
new cupolas were to be exact copy of the ones on this photo.
new cupolas were to be exact copy of the ones on this photo.
That's where the cupola will stand. We can take measurements to build the cupolas on computer, around the existing
elements.
elements.
Mexico City, workshops of Artkeytechturall. Leonor, the architect of the main contractor, DBM, visit us to see the
progress and the details. Francisco, in middle is Juan's engineer and Juan on right.
progress and the details. Francisco, in middle is Juan's engineer and Juan on right.
The copper segments just arrived from CNC punching. They look just gorgeous.
This box will house the systems that hide inside of the cupola.
Los Cabos Airport again. This time with Pinia (right), Nava (standing), and Franki (sitting). They are with me to make
the cupolas happen. With us some tools and materials that we got after the truck was sent. The blue box houses the tiny
TIG welding machine. I hope it won't let us down.
the cupolas happen. With us some tools and materials that we got after the truck was sent. The blue box houses the tiny
TIG welding machine. I hope it won't let us down.
The copper shells. They just need to be trimmed and put in place. All the segments sit as they should. The welding machine
works like dream.
works like dream.
Almost there. Will we meet the deadline?
