American hard maple has been used extensively in the conversion of the French Court of Auditors’ archive building in Paris into a contemporary office block.
The listed building’s interior was formerly a maze of concrete but architect Cecile Pereira pinpointed wood panelling to complement the contemporary colour scheme.
“American hard maple provided exactly what I wanted from a clear coloured hardwood; it’s light but not too pink and I know the colour tones will not change over time,” she said.
The species was used for panelling and facings, including in an area where some of the former shelving units have been maintained to showcase the heritage of the building with public archives down the ages.
The renovated building, which is in the architectural style of the Chicago School, has been named the Chicago Tower.
