In the same spirit, the copper roof is acting as an umbrella under which interested parties can come together at the Core and examine issues of resource management. Fittingly, one of the earliest events to be held in the new building was a two day workshop focusing on the use of metals in construction, bringing together miners, architects and builders.

Grimshaw's Jolyon Brewis agrees with Peter Whitbread-Abrutat's belief that Eden's choice of copper would be a starting point for discussion. "The answer is not to stop using materials that may have questionable sustainability status," he says, "but to produce buildings which put the issue on the table."

Helen Plummer is a freelance writer based in Oxforshire, England.