- TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - 13/Aug 00:16

Wood Up in Paris

REI Habitat officially launched ‘Wood Up’, a pioneering 50m high wooden tower in Paris’s 13th arrondissement. With 132 residential units, the building stands as one of Europe’s tallest timber buildings, a landmark in sustainable architecture and a showcase for bio-based materials. Sources: Timberbiz, photo credit PEFC France Designed by LAN Architecture and constructed using beechwood from French forests, Wood Up is a flagship project demonstrating REI Habitat’s mission to transform real estate through ecological innovation. As the first PEFC-certified developer in France, REI Habitat sources wood from sustainably managed forests. The event was attended by key figures including Jacques Baudrier, Deputy Mayor of Paris for Housing and Ecological Transition, Jérôme Coumet, Mayor of the 13th arrondissement, Paul Jarquin, founder of REI Habitat and Christine de Neuville, President of PEFC France. “The use of wood, a renewable material and natural carbon sink, is emerging as a solution for the future, but also raises questions about the ability to meet demand while preserving our forests,” said Christine de Neuville. “PEFC certification is essential to attest to sustainable forest management and harvesting that meets today’s challenges. It is through certification that we can take concrete action to meet climate challenges.” Wood Up reflects REI Habitat’s 15-year commitment to low-carbon construction. Using 387m³ of French Beech – an underused species in large-scale building – the project reduces carbon emissions by 60% compared to traditional concrete construction. Beech from Normandy was transported by river to minimise its environmental footprint. The project also reused wood offcuts to create modular furniture, crafted by REI Habitat’s reuse subsidiary, Remake. Paul Jarquin, founder and president of REI Habitat said: “The use of beech, a hardwood species still rarely used for buildings of this size, shipped by river, is a world first. In collaboration with engineering firms and the Efectis Laboratory, we have helped to advance scientific knowledge on the fire resistance of this species in construction.” The tower, owned by Gecina and located in the Paris Rive Gauche development zone, spans 8,935m² and includes a commercial ground floor, 132 apartments, and extensive communal amenities such as outdoor walkways, bicycle and vehicle parking, and shared terraces. Its design promotes community living, with standout features like a 300m² 8th-floor terrace for gatherings and a 700m² rooftop garden on the 16th floor, offering panoramic views of Paris. Technically and architecturally innovative, Wood Up is a winner of the Wooden Living Building initiative by ADIVbois and SEMAPA. It meets top-tier sustainability certifications, including NF Habitat HQE Excellent, BBCA, BiodiverCity, and Effinergie+. The project also contributed to R&D on fire resistance in hardwood construction, keeping wood visibly integrated within the structure despite regulatory challenges. The project aligns with Paris’s goal to lower emissions, boost affordable housing, and green the city. Wood Up also launches the ‘Un Immeuble, Une Forêt’ (One Building, One Forest) initiative, linking real estate projects to afforestation and reforestation programs as part of a voluntary carbon offset strategy, reflecting REI Habitat’s broader vision of ecological and socially responsible urbanism.