Kebony, a Norwegian brand of environmentally-friendly modified wood, was specified in the ‘Quai des Milliardaires’ renovation project. The quay itself, the stairs, pontoons, the benches and the handrails on the railings are in Kebony Clear wood. Its elegant knot-free appearance, its velvet feel, its great strength and silver patina allow it to blend harmoniously into this prestigious seafront environment.

Yachts parade in style on the Quaides Milliardaires, located at the heart of Port Vauban, Europe’s leading marina, right by the town center of Antibes. The terraces face the Mediterranean horizon and the heritage site, creating a dialogue with the old town and the Fort Carré.

Since May 2023, the quay and the building – which houses a yacht club, a bar and a crew center – have been transformed. The aim of the project was to renew the image and use of this quay, to make it part of a port for the third millennium, focused on user services.

The whole complex now features a powerful and sober horizontal architecture, combining traditional know-how and high technology. White concrete, stainless steel, marble, smart glass and ceramics are joined by environmentally-friendly wood from Kebony.

The patented Kebony process involves polymerizing the cell walls of softwoods from sustainable sources by heating them with a bio-based liquid. This way it acquires all the qualities of tropical hardwood, while remaining environmentally friendly. Kebony wood is durable and resistant, even in maritime climates.

“We wanted to use strips of wood for large outdoor terraces from quite an early stage, by analogy with boat decks. Kebony wood was chosen for its aesthetic qualities, its durability – particularly in a highly exposed marine environment – and for its natural character,” stated l’Atelier  ’Architecture Philippe Prost.

As well as forming an essential part of the environmental commitment, which is now de rigeur, Kebony wood lets the quay, and its structures blend in with the overall architecture and the surrounding landscape. The wood is maintenance-free, comes with a 30-year guarantee and its characteristics make it resist wear even under intensive use.

It is important to note that the silver patina that the Kebony wood will acquire over time will only enhance its elegance, and its aesthetic marriage with the everchanging blue of the sea. Kebony is a genuine, top-ofthe- range, environmentally friendly and sustainable wood used for many outdoor applications: decking, cladding, roofing and furniture. Kebony’s Dually Modified™ technology is a patented production process that improves the properties of softwoods to give them characteristics comparable to those of tropical hardwoods.

Using an environmentally-friendly process, the wood is impregnated with an organic liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. Heating the wood allows the polymers to impregnate the cell walls of the wood, increasing its density and dimensional stability, and giving it a dark brown color similar to that of tropical wood.