Trespa Chesterfield opens new doors

The new head office for French architectural practice Archi Concept features an innovative way of using the conventional Trespa Meteon cladding panel to create a stunning and unusual entrance. The building makes a powerful statement not only as a showcase for the architects themselves but also for an imaginative new design concept.

The growing architectural practice of Archi Concept now operates from a new flagship office which they designed themselves. The prestige building not only gives the practice a high profile but also attracts attention because of its dramatic and unusual entrance designed with Trespa Meteon panels.

The design concept came to the architects when they visited the Batimat Exhibition in Paris and saw the panels displayed on the Trespa stand together with the new Perspectives concept which Trespa was launching. Although the architects were familiar with the conventional Trespa Meteon panel, they were particularly influenced by the new Chesterfield variation. This is based on the Trespa Perspectives concept which is designed to show architects and designers how panels can be adapted, changed, moulded and fixed in different ways. The idea is to create aesthetically different facades without altering the fundamental characteristics and performance of the product. Changing the surface of the panels adds interest, depth and movement and this is accentuated by the ever changing play of sunlight and shadow.

The new office is situated close to Bordeaux airport in a commercial park.

This is a relatively compact and rectangular building of 650sqm over three floors. It houses 17 architects and other staff with planned accommodation for further growth. Particularly dramatic are the open spaces which rise the full height of the building in the foyer and inside the drawing office. Nearby is the large sales showroom of Decathlon which was also designed by Archi Concept and has facades clad with Trespa panels.

Archi Concept’s new entrance comprises 22 Chesterfield elements. The Trespa Meteon panels were prefabricated in Holland and cut to the correct size after bending. This process incorporated a bracket so that they could be easily fixed together on site to form the inclined entrance. Finished in satin copper red, they contrast dramatically with the full height glazing of the main façade. Flat Meteon panels, in the same colour, have also been used to clad the gable ends and complement similar Meteon facades used on the adjacent Decathlon building.

A new design source

Trespa Perspectives is a new source of inspiration for architects, designers and specifiers – the means to stimulate new ideas and realise new designs. By visiting http://perspectives.trespa.com and clicking on Projects, they can meet other architects and designers whose imagination has been inspired by the Perspectives concept and who have used it to create some of today’s most exciting building façades. Visitors to the website start with a click and finish with inspiration!

Reader enquiries

Trespa International b.v.
P.O. Box 110
6000 AC Weert
Netherlands
+31 495 458 353
P.Waterschoot@​trespa.com

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Notes for editors

Trespa Meteon

Trespa Meteon architectural panels are available in an extensive range of different colours, effects and finishes or in specials.

The panels are based on thermosetting resin, homogeneously reinforced with 70% wood fibres and manufactured under high pressure and high temperature. The result is a panel which is very tough and exceptionally durable, with dimensional stability and workability similar to hardwood. The smooth, non-porous surface resists the accumulation of dirt and retains its high physical performance and appearance in any weather or in extremes of temperature.

The high impact-resistance of the panel means that it cannot easily be damaged, scratched or abused and is very easily cleaned.

Trespa

Trespa International, with head office in Weert, The Netherlands, specialises in the manufacture of high quality panels for exterior cladding, interior surfaces and other applications. Trespa has the expertise and in-house resources to provide specific products for many different applications and markets. In addition to their exceptional performance, Trespa products offer the specifier and user the very widest choice of designs, colours and surface textures.