ACO will be exhibiting its new gutter cover, ACO Self Bois, at Architect@Work Bordeaux.

ACO was one of the first manufacturers to realize the need to go beyond the functional attributes of the gutter by offering a wide range of grates with varied aesthetics to complement any environment. By partnering with designer Franck Magné, ACO goes even further. This time, the goal is to think outside the box and create a real break with existing solutions on the domestic drainage market.

"As a designer, the ACO project represented a real challenge. My goal was to transform an everyday object that hadn't changed for several years, reinventing it with an innovative design touch to create the future benchmark for gutters," says Franck Magné.

This is how, for the first time, a manufacturer made the bold choice of using wood to cover its gutters.

By reinterpreting the design of its ACO Self gutters, ACO is also giving itself the means to meet the current expectations of its customers who are looking for solutions capable of strengthening the personality of their homes and which contribute significantly to their beautification.

The collaboration between ACO and Franck Magné led to the creation of the “Finesse et Caniveaux” project, which had to meet two objectives: 

1/ make the aesthetics of the gutter affordable

"It was important to assert the unique features of this facility so that it would be seen differently. We needed to create a distinctive identity for it, a social and environmental connection. We needed to work to make this element respectable and highlight its attractive power," continues Frank Magné.

The modern design of ACO Self Bois gratings creates a connection with users and evokes the values of efficiency, safety, resistance and ecology of ACO solutions. Franck Magné's stylistic approach also reflects the perfect symbiosis that exists between gutters and nature, through their use (water drainage) and their immersion in the outdoor landscape environment.

2/ make the gutter an architectural element in its own right

With ACO Self Bois, rainwater drainage has never been so stylish. Starting with an unsightly element with an unflattering image, Franck Magné and the entire ACO team have successfully revealed the object's beauty. ACO Self Bois transforms the gutter into a beautiful, visually pleasing piece of equipment that blends harmoniously with the surrounding landscape architecture.

ACO Self Bois brings a unique element to the floor. It boasts a simple and refined silhouette that adds the finishing touch to outdoor decor. Combined with a different floor covering, it creates a perfect transition between a modern deck and the garden, adding a natural, plant-like touch while creating a striking visual contrast.

Thus, the alchemy works perfectly between its functionality, its ergonomics and its aesthetic aspect.

A bold range with efficient design

The choice of a new material for a unique range

ACO and Frank Magné have created a truly avant-garde collection by using an unexpected material for this type of application: wood. While using wood for a gutter cover may seem unusual, it is, above all, a carefully considered approach that underlines the desire to work with a material that is both noble, modern, versatile, and environmentally friendly.

Furthermore, wood is perfectly suited to the challenges of water management in residential housing. In order to demonstrate the compliance of the wood with the various standards in force, ACO subjected these two species - oak and thermo-heated ash - to numerous tests of resistance to various climatic and chemical aggressions (rain, UV, sea salt, detergents).

The aesthetic singularity of the ACO Self Bois grid does not, however, leave aside its performance.

techniques :

- a high quality AISI 304 stainless steel support,

- a passivated finish, in order to eliminate all traces of oxidation, and brushed to provide a shiny side,

- fixing the wooden blade from below to a stainless steel insert. The latter itself is inserted

in the body of the gutter,

- stop plates for perfect support of the wooden cover.

The perfectly smooth surface of the wooden slat guarantees optimal absorption. The slots, only 8 mm wide, allow rainwater to flow discreetly and are very comfortable for barefoot use.

Wood is a very load-resistant material. The wood range can therefore be installed in all traffic areas used by pedestrians, in accordance with the NF EN 1433 standard (resistance class A15).

The ACO Self Bois cover is available in a width of 75 cm, a length of 100 cm and a thickness of 21 mm.