Accoya, the world-leading modified wood, manufactured by Accsys Technologies has been used to create an external wood façade for a new Louis Vuitton store in the Mexican tourist resort of Cancun.
The prestigious store, which recently opened at La Isla shopping centre, was designed by Louis Vuitton architect, Jose-Carlos Valdivia de Los Ríos and Gustavo Carmona, a Mexican architect who lead the study Materia-Arquitectónica.
Together they wanted a wooden façade to recreate the iconic criss-cross patterned design which adorns many of the luxury brand’s products, this resulted in a challenging remit for the project team - which included Chilean and Mexican firm INNTEC.
Recreating this design in wood would be a challenge for most products. However the façade also had to meet the high standard of quality associated with the brand and be delivered to the highest levels of aesthetic finish. The geographical location of the store also posed further obstacles for the team, with Cancun prone to extreme weather conditions from high humidity to tornadoes.
Thanks to Accoya’s modification process it delivers outstanding levels of performance including stability, sustainability and durability. Its superior qualities allow Accoya to outperform other wood species, making it ideal for external use. The modification process also provides Accoya with an insect barrier protecting against attack from termites and leaves the wood UV resistant.
Over 223 Accoya wood panels were used to create the exterior façade. The façade was constructed using four types of panels arranged in an interleaved style to achieve a wood tissue. Each panel was made up of nine profiles of Accoya to recreate the iconic Louis Vuitton design.
Pedro Reyes and wood engineer Diego Vasquez, both from INNTEC said: “The design and construction of the new Louis Vuitton store in Cancun was a rewarding challenge. It was privilege to recreate the famous Louis Vuitton criss-cross design. We had to ensure it was constructed to the highest possible standard and able to withstand the challenging climate. The durability and stability offered by Accoya made this product ideal, not only, for the climate but also the challenging construction process, which took INNTEC’s team of fifteen people ten days to complete.”
Bryan Crennell, director of sales and marketing at Accsys Technologies said, “At Accsys we pride ourselves on providing our customers with a superior wood product which will meet a variety of needs. We are delighted that the quality, finish and attributes of Accoya are regarded as an ideal match for such a well-respected luxury brand like Louis Vuitton.
“The finished building is impressive and the Accoya façade is covered with our guarantee against rot and decay for 50 years for exterior use above ground, making it perfect for a demanding outdoor application and location such as this.”
Accoya, manufactured by Accsys Technologies, is one of the most superior wood products on the market today. Created using Accsys’ propriety acetylation technology, Accoya delivers outstanding levels of performance, including stability, sustainability and durability.
Made with FSC certified wood, Accoya is in an attractive wood product which is perfect for a variety of uses, from windows and doors to external cladding, structural projects and decking.
