Impress with surprising choices and stylish combinations? Arteco does the trick. The property developer showed off its skills in the French town of Saint-Nazaire, flanked by the surging Loire. The impressive façade is dominated by the Linius façade cladding from Renson. The invisible screens ensure pleasant indoor temperatures.
The Arteco house in Saint-Nazaire, in Loire-Atlantique, is a conceptual building. Branch Manager Mickaël Euzenat explains:
“This local branch is about 200 square metres. For this project, we relied on suppliers of high-quality and utilised special products, such as external insulation, innovative heating systems, and Renson’s aluminium façade cladding.”
High-end concept with refined materials
The ‘out the box’ building combines a domestic exterior with an office interior. Aesthetics and practical added value come together in a selection of refined materials. Mickaël emphasises:
“The principle of a high-end concept, but in a homey atmosphere. Customers can see the products here in a different way. And our ideal geographical location called for a real eyecatcher.”
Instead of traditional wooden or aluminium cassettes as façade cladding, the architects opted for blades, for external insulation and to really draw attention. The horizontal aluminium Linius blades – resistant to the salty sea air – create unique and fascinating shadow effects. The white façade cladding on the first floor is a nice contrast to the Linius blades on the ground floor.
Lessons from the past
Renson was also the point of contact for efficient and windproof (up to 130 km/h) sun protection, a practical choice with no impact on the façade appearance, despite the thick layer of insulation. In opting for blinds, Arteco drew lessons from the past. A branch in Lorient, built in 2007 without sun protection, quickly ran into an overheating problem and needed active cooling. The Fixscreens prevent the same scenario in Saint-Nazaire. All whilst maintaining the sleek architecture.