Tallest ever 鈥榚co鈥� wooden building opens in France
The tallest apartment building ever to be made almost entirely of wood in France has opened in Strasbourg, aiming to show the eco-friendliness of the construction method.
Standing at 38 metres and 11 storeys high, the building is the tallest wooden tower in the country. Located in Strasbourg, in the Deux-Rives district, it was opened officially this week, on Tuesday June 11.
Emmanuelle Wargon, secretary of State for the ecology minister, who was present at the opening, : 鈥淲e need exemplary projects in this country. This is proof that construction in wood is possible. The idea is to show an example. It is always difficult for the first buildings to get off the ground, but I hope that this method will one day become normal.鈥�
The development is made up of three buildings in total, and is officially named 鈥淪ensations鈥�.
The first inhabitants are set to move into the site鈥檚 146 apartments from 鈥渘ext week鈥�, estate agents Bouygues Immobilier said. Some apartments are still available, at an average cost of 3,600 per m2.
Philippe Michel, regional technical director at Bouygues Immobilier, : 鈥淲e are selling at market value here, we have not sold them for a higher price just because they are made out of wood.
鈥淧eople would not be happy to pay more for the extra cost of the work, which we estimate was 20% more expensive compared to more traditional construction methods.鈥�
The shortfall in price has been made up by the State, as part of its future investment scheme, le Programme d鈥橧nvestissements d鈥橝venir (PIA).
Ms Wargon : 鈥淭his is a technical feat, but it also appears very pleasant to live in. The energy transition is real: we鈥檙e on it.鈥�
