Expanded metal for red cube in Nantes

October 2011 – The new area “l’Île de Nantes” is taking shape on the grounds of the former shipyard in Nantes, France. It is home to an unusual melting pot of buildings, bringing together art, culture and architecture. For example, there is “l’Île rouge”, the red cube: the outer wall is clad with expanded metal made from corten steel, which gives the building a brownish red colour. The expanded metal was produced by Métal Déployé, a ROTO subsidiary.

The red cube can be found near the Palace of Justice, which was designed by the celebrated architect Jean Nouvel and which also uses expanded metal from Métal Déployé. To give this office block an industrial look that refers back to the industrial origins of the area, the outer wall of the concrete cube is expanded metal made from corten steel. The expanded metal and the typical rust colour of the corten steel give the cube an unusual appearance, ensuring that the building stands out from the others in the vicinity.

Expanded metal for architectural applications

The degree of transparency of expanded metal is determined by the mesh size. In the “Ile rouge de Nantes”, two types of expanded metal with different mesh sizes were used: Andaluz 110 L and Oxygene 110 XS. The cladding of expanded metal not only gives the building a modern look, it also acts as a natural sun blind. Expanded metal provides architects with fantastic possibilities!