Wood Up Tower / LAN Architecture

Standing tall at fifty meters, the Wood Up tower in Paris, designed by architecture firm LAN (Local Architecture Network), is one of Europe’s pioneering vertical timber-frame buildings. Recently completed after seven years since work began, the building plays a vital role in the large-scale urban project known as Paris Rive Gauche, which aims at the development of the entire eastern side of the 13th arrondissement and at the connection of its neighborhoods with the Seine, as well as of the capital city with the municipality of Ivry-sur-Seine.

To facilitate these connections in this intricate urban area, the project utilizes the existing road infrastructure to create a neighborhood in the Massena-Bruneseau sector, which will shape a new urban landscape on a metropolitan scale along the banks of the Seine. Wood Up fits into this context serving as a cornerstone of this new urban identity and acting as a pivotal connection of the different elevation levels between the Seine’s waterfront and the boulevard du Général d’Armée Jean Simon.

Developed over 17 floors, the building includes commercial premises, 132 residential units ranging from studios to five rooms, and various communal areas to promote social interaction among residents, all linked by an outdoor walkway. Demonstrating how architecture can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change, the building’s structure was made of wood, a building material that offers numerous environmental and economic benefits, such as absorbing CO2 and being a renewable resource when sourced from sustainably managed forests.

From an energy perspective, wood requires minimal energy for its harvesting, processing, and installation, while also bolstering the local economy by utilizing local resources. In addition, timber construction, often paired with prefabrication techniques, has a low carbon footprint and allows for quicker and more efficient completion of building projects.

The structure of the new Wood Up tower consists of several key components: a concrete base and infrastructure from the ground floor to the first floor, a primary load-bearing framework consisting of glulam posts and beams, a concrete bracing system with a central core and wall elements, a secondary framework of glulam beams, and mixed wood and concrete floors.

All the timber, entirely sourced from France and transported via the Seine river, was carefully selected taking into account the unique properties of each type and its specific role within the structure. The interior posts are crafted from beech, a dense hardwood that provides excellent compression resistance; the interior beams are made from spruce, a wood known for its high bending strength; and the exterior posts and encapsulation elements are constructed from Douglas f ir, a softwood with good waterproofing and resistance to humidity. In addition, all offcuts and remnants from the wooden elements were reused to create furniture for the building’s communal areas.

The tower, which includes commercial, residential, and communal areas, embodies the modern concept of collective housing that offers the qualities and advantages of a single-family home- such as privacy, private outdoor space, and connection to the outside world – while minimizing environmental impact by reducing the infrastructure network and visual and air pollution. The goal is to create a housing form that harmonizes the desire for privacy with the enjoyment of community living. Residents can relish abundant light, space, comfort, and f lexibility in their homes, while also having the opportunity to gather with neighbors on a 300 sqm terrace measuring 23×10 m, boasting breathtaking views of Paris, or in a roof garden, in the large entrance hall, or in the wide, naturally lit corridors.

In addition to the 700 sqm of total rooftop space, residents also benefit from about 1,700 sqm of outdoor areas, which include 800 sqm of private terraces and 500 sqm of communal terraces. The layout of the 132 residential units includes, for each large apartment – three to five rooms – on one floor, two smaller units – from one bedroom to two-bedroom – directly on the upper floor, while the duplexes are positioned at the corners of the building. This arrangement enables a high level of diversity within the structure and provides significant flexibility due to its regular and repetitive layout.

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• Architects: LAN Architecture
• Area: 8949 m²
• Year: 2024
• Photographs: Daisy Reillet, Charly Broyez, Nicolas Grosmond
• Structure: Elioth
• Landscape: Atelier Georges
• Client: REI Habitat
• Developer: Semapa
• Fluid Engineering: Sinteo
• Facade: Elioth
• Economy: BMF
• Fire Safety Engineering: Casso & Associes
• Inspections: APAVE
• Acoustic: Jean-Paul Lamoureux
• City: Paris
• Country: France