Pomerol, France: the renovation of Château La Pointe features a new façade in Corian® Exteriors.

June 2019 - The Château La Pointe winery (www.chateaulapointe.com) that is located in the vineyard of Pomerol – the prestigious and internationally renowned appellation of Bordeaux wines - has recently been extended and renovated. Built in the nineteenth century, its historic castle is one of the great properties in the Libourne area and the reason for constructing was to help establish the reputation of this impressive estate. The architects of Archi Concept Groupe FRANC from Mérignac were looking for both elegance and resistance for the cladding of the façades. Corian® Exteriors, exterior cladding solutions based on Corian® Solid Surface, enabled the creation of an elaborate covering of great visual impact that is also resistant and easy to maintain. Corian® Solid Surface was used also in the interior of the renovated vat room to make ceiling lamps replicating the decorative motif of the facade.

Architectural studio Archi Concept Groupe FRANC, that specializes in the design of professional buildings and wineries, worked closely with the client to define the construction and renovation project with the aim of creating a structure that is outstanding in its aesthetics and shows up among the beautiful buildings in the area, yet blends comfortably into the surrounding architectural landscape. The focus of the project was to extend the vat room and create additional technical rooms.

The interesting architectural feature of Corian® Exteriors is the possibility of creating customized patterns, providing individuality every time it is used. The intricate pattern now covering Château La Pointe contributes to its unique identity, and it does not seek imitation but rather stands as inspiration for other projects to be just as distinctive.

Château La Pointe winery in Pomerol, Bordeaux, France features a decorative cladding

made of Corian® Exteriors, an exterior cladding solution based on Corian® Solid Surface;

project by Archi Concept Groupe FRANC; photo Eric Monneret, all rights reserved.

On the two facades of the main building, a decorative patterned structure, created using Corian® Exteriors panels based on Corian® Solid Surface in the Glacier White colour, was applied over the large walls. The pattern is detached from the façade by a few centimetres and is applied using fixing devices specially studied for this project in order to respect the creative vision of the architects of Archi Concept Groupe FRANC: an effect of light weightless that is unencumbered by visible anchoring supports. This unique decorative structure made of Corian® Exteriors panels extends over the full length and height of the facades. Its motif represents plants and their roots, evoking the vines surrounding the Château La Pointe 23-hectare estate.

The façade overlooking the vineyards, that is visible from the Pomerol road, is fitted with a system for backlighting. As night falls, the nature-inspired decoration is enhanced by a suggestive illumination that allows Château La Pointe to display its new look combining tradition and modernity. The pure white colour of Corian® Exteriors panels interacts with the light, whether natural or artificial, creating surprising and fascinating effects on the facade day and night.

For the renovation of Château La Pointe, Corian® Solid Surface also found its way to the interior of the new vat room. Four ceiling lamps, 1.20 meters in diameter, share the same pure white and depict the same motif as the façade. They decorate the space creating an attractive contrast with the concrete and the steel of the vat room.

In the renewed vat room at Château La Pointe winery in Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Corian® Solid Surface is used for the creation of four large ceiling lamps (diameter: 1.20 meters);

project by Archi Concept Groupe FRANC; photo Sylvain Lagarde, all rights reserved.

Archi Concept Groupe FRANC studio had previously used Corian® Exteriors and they knew that its aesthetic and functional qualities met the project requirements for the façade of Château La Pointe. Corian® Exteriors is versatile and renowned for its reliability and durability and offers endless possibilities for shaping. It is non-porous, does not let in moisture and does not delaminate. It is resistant to UV rays and extreme weather conditions and its colour, that is consistent throughout its thickness, remains stable over time.

Archi Concept Groupe FRANC worked in close collaboration with Mérignac-based company L'Atelier d'Agencement, which had the know-how and the expertise necessary for the creation of the customized panels for the façade and the ceiling lamps using Corian® Solid Surface. For the application of the decorative pattern on the panels, L'Atelier d'Agencement conceived an innovative solution: fastening devices that allow for the adjustment of the fixtures during the installation of the structure, so that they correspond to the inserts previously integrated on the facade. The production of the large ceiling lamps in the vat room was entirely carried out in the workshop by cutting and joining Corian® Solid Surface.

Château La Pointe winery was delighted with the final result, fully meeting their requirements. The unique and remarkable aesthetics of the façade reflects the elegance and prestige of Château La Pointe, and the functional qualities of this contemporary material ensure its stability and ease of maintenance for many years to come.

Château La Pointe winery in Pomerol, Bordeaux, France features a decorative cladding

made of Corian® Exteriors, an exterior cladding solution based on Corian® Solid Surface;

project by Archi Concept Groupe FRANC; photo Sylvain Lagarde, all rights reserved.

Archi Concept Groupe FRANC (www.ac-groupefranc.com) - Archi Concept Groupe FRAMC architectural firm has had a steady and constant growth since its creation by Mr. Pierre d'Avout in 1993. With a team of 16 people, architects, interior designers / designers, construction economists, draughtsmen and graphic designers / 3D modellers, working on around twenty projects simultaneously. Among them the studio handles logistics, commercial, residential, offices, industrial projects. In 2018, Archi Concept Groupe takes a new step by integrating Paris architectural studio AGENCE FRANC Winner of the Grand Prix SIMI 2018 mixed real estate and logistics category for the project DASSAULT AVIATION in Tremblay in France (93). The FRANC studio has several other agencies in France including one in Caen, in Le Havre and a high definition 3D imaging studio in Bordeaux. This merger will provide ARCHI CONCEPT with greater competitiveness and further development of its know-how in order to meet both the technical and architectural needs of increasingly demanding customers.