Timber balconies at the Muskaria residence

At Zarautz, a seaside resort in the Spanish Basque Country near San Sebastián, the practice XS Arkitektura chose solid Accoya wood to clad the balconies of the Muskaria residence, on the marina at the edge of the beach. Exposed to sun, rain and winds laden with sand and sea spray, the facade called for an exceptional material: Accoya was the clear choice for its durability class 1 rating, its dimensional stability superior to the best exotic hardwoods, its low environmental footprint and its non-toxicity. With the joinery firm Carpinteria Zulaika, the original Red Cedar elements, damaged by sea spray, were replaced like for like: 35 m³ of 38 x 150 mm Accoya boards, that is 14 km of open-jointed boards forming barriers and balustrades, supplied by the Spanish distributor Gamiz and protected with a light brown tinted Sikkens penetrating oil.