Cupaclad Waterfall wraps up French new-build

Cupaclad Waterfall cladding at Treetops in the Loire Valley: 'The natural slate is orientated vertically to create an optical illusion of cascading water'.

Treetops is a new-build home near Angers in France's Loire Valley. It was designed by architect Anaïs Bordeau who specialises in wood-framed buildings.

The property is in a small village that lies on the banks of the Mayenne River, where all construction projects are subject to approval by the Architectes des Bâtiments de France (ABF), the organisation responsible for protecting and managing the nation's architectural heritage. Its mission is to ensure consistency in heritage preservation and spatial planning.

While the house is determinedly contemporary, it also sits in harmony with its more traditional neighbours and the trees that surround it.

To achieve a modern aesthetic while complying with ABF regulations, Bordeau proposed a bold facade solution - a combination of vertical wooden cladding on the eaves and Cupa Pizarras's Cupaclad slate in a new design called Waterfall, which features graphic vertical lines, for the front and rear.

Waterfall is the only Cupaclad design that requires the slates to be installed vertically rather than horizontally. This is to give the impression of cascading water. But at Treetops Bordeau has used the design to mirror the verticality of the trees and their ascent skywards.

'Wood ages better standing; the tree grows standing,' she says. 'The vertical installation of the slate is a nod to the wood.' For her, the unusual method of installation brings dynamism and momentum to her design and gives the traditional materials she has specified a contemporary edge.

The client was initially sceptical about using slate on the facade, but came round to the idea once they saw Bordeau's architectural drawings. Alongside the beauty of the slate, they were impressed by Cupaclad's acoustic and thermal benefits.

'I see part of my work as guiding clients towards designs that harness natural - even noble - materials; designs that make sense in relation to their environments.'

Bordeau's installation of Cupaclad Waterfall at Treetops was a first in France - and worldwide.

All Cupaclad designs are completely customisable. If you have a great idea but aren't sure how to execute it, Cupa Pizarras can help make it a reality.

Find more on this case study at cupapizarras.com/projects/treetops

'A hypnotic yet random design of slate formats': Cupaclad Waterfall slate cladding was specified for the front and rear facades.
Timber cladding on the gable ends is a nod to the surrounding trees.
The natural materials that architect Anaïs Bordeau has chosen help a very contemporary design bed into its setting.