Aesthetics, durability, resistance to fire and to the elements: the white aluminum and grey Rockpanel facade boards at the Hyperion tower in Bordeaux (France) stand out as a manifesto. The 57-metre-high tower, which has 16 floors, is the tallest wooden construction in France to date and is full of innovative features. Designed by the Viguier Architecture Urbanisme Paysage agency, it emerges from a set of four buildings and consists of 100 housing units that enclose a central concrete core. The cantilevered balconies in a structure from wood and steel are truly unique for buildings of this height.
Used products:
Rockpanel Metals White Aluminium
Innovations in structure and facade
Led by the Eiffage group, both owner and general contractor, the project is part of a low carbon approach. The building is innovative in many ways, including the design-realization under BIM standard, the low-carbon construction and the application of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) for the structure. Although a lot of timber is present in the construction of the building, it is much more discreet on the facade, since it is only visible on the underside of balconies. For the cladding of the prefabricated walls, the designers Rockpanel cladding boards over timber. An option that was highly suitable for off-site construction, Ludwig Hahusseau from Eiffage group explains: “These facade boards respond perfectly to this method and are easy to install for maximum efficiency." Rockpanel cladding met all the requirements for the project, both from an environmental and regulatory point of view. For example, their durability and recyclability were big advantages.
Combining aesthetics and fire resilience
As for the regulatory aspect - fire in particular – the facade boards from Rockpanel also highly contributed to a good result. As the boards are made from basalt, a volcanic stone which can withstand extremely high temperatures by nature, they are non-combustible. This is an undeniable advantage in the context of the construction of a high-rise building. When looking at aesthetics, the white aluminum and grey cladding boards which the architects chose, establish an elegant contrast with the natural wood visible on the underside of the balconies. Ludwig Hahusseau concludes: "Rockpanel cladding has excellent technical characteristics, helps reduce the carbon impact of the structure and provides an aesthetic appearance similar to metal cassettes with a beautiful lacquer finish".
