New French public buildings must be made 50% from wood

The government of France is set to require all new public buildings to be made of at least 50% wood or other sustainable materials from 2022 as it pushes for greater sustainability in urban development. The municipal government in Paris had already pledged to make greater use of natural materials such as wood, straw and hemp and any buildings higher than eight-storeys built for the 2024 Paris Olympics must be made entirely of timber.

The Minister of Cities and Housing, Julien Denormandie, recently announced measures for a “sustainable city” that took stock of a past decade of public policies.

“I require that, by 2022, all public bodies that manage development must construct their buildings with material that is at least 50% wood or other bio-sourced material of animal or vegetable origin such as straw or hemp, We made this commitment for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. If it is possible for the Olympics, it should be possible for ordinary buildings.” said Denormandie.

The municipal government in Paris had already pledged to make greater use of natural materials such as wood, straw and hemp and any buildings higher than eight-storeys built for the 2024 Paris Olympics must be made entirely of timber.

Elsewhere in France, the move to towards greater use of timber in construction appears to be proceeding with considerable panache: the recently completed Palazzo Méridia in Nice, by Architecture Studio, is now the tallest timber office building in the country. The structure gives some indication of the release of innovation in engineered timber design that the Olympic Games look likely to provide.