With its fifty-meter height, the Wood Up tower is one of the first examples of a vertical wooden structure building in Europe.
This architecture features three distinct programs, each corresponding to different spaces: a commercial base, 132 residential units (ranging from T5 to studio apartments), and a series of communal areas for residents, all connected by an outdoor path.
As part of a low-carbon construction (BBCA Label), the technical challenges and limitations of the wooden construction system served as the foundation for a spatial and typological exploration, seeking to balance the relationship between urban foundations and functional requirements, the volume and spatial layout, as well as architectural language and historical context.

The Wood Up project is structured around three distinct narratives.
The first narrative presents this architecture as an essential part of a large-scale urban project. The building aims to redefine both the Seine riverfront and the Boulevard du Général d'Armée Jean Simon by acting as a hinge connecting their two different altitudes.
Thanks to the distance between buildings along the Seine, the lack of construction to the north, and the angling of the volumes from east to west, Wood Up also integrates into the distant urban landscape — that of the Seine bridges, the ring road, and other road connections. Like a cathedral, this architecture offers different interpretations depending on the distance from which it is viewed.

The second narrative is related to the primary function of the project: living. Wood Up embodies the idea of providing collective housing with the same qualities and benefits as a single-family house - privacy, private outdoor space, independence, and sensory contact with the outside world - while minimizing environmental impact (reducing networks, decreasing visual and atmospheric pollution, etc.) and offering communal spaces that promote social interaction. The goal is to design an intermediate form of housing that can balance the desire for intimacy with the pleasures of communal living. Living here means benefiting from light, space, comfort, and flexibility in one's own home, while also being able to meet neighbors on a 300 m² terrace with breathtaking views of Paris, in a rooftop garden, in the spacious lobby, or in the generously sized and naturally lit circulation areas.
The project’s 132 apartments follow a simple idea: for each large apartment on one floor, two smaller ones are located on the next floor. Thus, the larger units, ranging from T3 to T5, alternate with floors dedicated exclusively to T1 and T2 units. This layout excludes duplex apartments located at the building’s corners. The alternation ensures significant diversity within the building, and thanks to a regular and repetitive structure, it also offers great flexibility, allowing for the vertical combination of typologies over time. In addition to the 650 m² of rooftop garden, Wood Up residents benefit from more than 1,700 m² of outdoor spaces, including 500 m² of collective terraces and 800 m² of private terraces. Storage rooms, totaling 168 m², are spread across the first five levels.

The third narrative is technical and environmental. Wood Up is one of the first buildings in France to exceed the usual heights of wooden constructions. This innovative project serves as a model, affirming that architecture can play a key role in the fight for planet preservation. Wood, as a building material, has numerous environmental and economic benefits: it absorbs CO2 during its growth and stores this carbon throughout the building’s lifespan. Moreover, wood is a renewable resource, provided that forests are managed sustainably (with PEFC or FSC certifications).
In terms of energy, wood requires minimal energy for extraction, processing, and construction, while also boosting the local economy by utilizing nearby resources and creating jobs that cannot be outsourced. Lastly, wooden construction, often associated with prefabrication techniques, enables faster and more efficient construction sites.

The building structure includes several elements:
• A concrete base and foundation extending from the quay to the first floor.
• A main load-bearing structure made of laminated timber posts and beams.
• A concrete bracing system consisting of a central core and crosswalls.
• A secondary framework of laminated timber beams.
• Mixed floors combining wood and concrete.
The construction wood used for this project is sourced entirely from France and transported via the Seine. This selection is based on a carefully considered mix, taking into account the unique properties of each wood type and their specific role within the structure.
The interior columns are made of beech, a dense hardwood known for its exceptional compressive strength, which helps maximize usable space (SHAB). The interior beams are crafted from spruce, a softwood that offers superior bending resistance compared to beech. The exterior columns and cladding elements are constructed from Douglas fir, a softwood renowned for its enhanced moisture resistance (Class 3).
The offcuts and wood trimmings from all elements were recycled to furnish the building's shared spaces.

Certifications and labels: BiodiverCity, BBCA Label, RT 2012 -20%, NF Habitat HQE Excellent Level, Effinergie+, French Wood, and "1 Building, 1 Forest" approach.