As one of the most popular as well as romantic cities in the world, Paris boasts premium properties where consultants and clients strive to optimise the space available. An inspiring example is the “Under the Roof” project where a tired old garret has been given a new lease of life with SterlingOSB Zero from the West Fraser range.
As featured in the January edition of Grand Designs Magazine, the apartment’s compact kitchen has cupboards at wall and floor level utilising the OSB’s distinctive surface structure, exposed as part of the refurbishment’s minimalist styling. The rugged OSB is also used for flooring and some pieces of furniture around the home, with its natural form very much to the fore in a manner which would have been approved by the great Romanian sculptor.
The project was designed by Florent Chagny Architecture for the new owner, who wanted to reimagine and upgrade the 50sqm space which is on the top floor of an 1830s wooden building in Paris’s 5th arrondissement.
Responding to the client’s brief, the designers decided to primarily utilise two “raw industrial” materials: steel and OSB. Key changes included the removal of some old partitions and a 1990’s spiral staircase, while the installation of contemporary rooflights and a steel framed glass screen above the lounge space introduced much needed natural light.
Florent Chagny commented,
“The client wanted to give a new identity to the apartment he had just purchased and is delighted to live in a new, contemporary stylish space with a high ceiling and much more light; important in the centre of large cities like Paris.”
Commenting on the choice of OSB as a primary material, he added:
“The idea was to highlight the functionality and form of the materials used. By choosing an industrial wood – a raw material usually meant to be hidden – we were also seeking to express all of the small details we had created. Architecture makes sense when design explores the different scales, and, in a way, we are paying tribute to the manufacturer’s creativity. Significantly, OSB is quite warm and it complements steel.”
As part of a comprehensive, overall carbon negative product range, SterlingOSB Zero T&G presents specifiers with precision-engineered tongue and groove boards which are typically specified for pitched or flat roof decking and timber frame construction, as well as for flooring and other applications.
Also from an environmental viewpoint, the ‘Zero’ in the name means no formaldehyde is added during its manufacture, which is a first in the UK, encouraging its specification on improved health and safety grounds.
Available in thicknesses of 18 and 22mm, the boards are produced in 2400 x 1200mm and 2440 x 1220mm sizes with T&G joints on two edges, as well as an 18mm thick version with T&G profiles around all four edges and face dimensions of 2400mm or 2440mm by 625mm. They are strong enough for use in most load-bearing applications, while BBA certification and recognition by both NHBC Technical and Zurich Municipal are key assurances for housebuilding applications. SterlingOSB Zero T&G also bears the coveted UKTFA Q-mark, a quality certification which provides a benchmark for manufacturers and offers confidence to designers and end-users across the UK.
To find out more about West Fraser’s support for architects and to access useful downloads visit the architects’ page at https://uk.westfraser.com/resources/architect-support/
For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/