Michael Green Architecture (MGA) and DVVD has teamed up with REI France developments to propose the world's tallest wood building in Paris. The carbon-neutral proposal, developed as part of the city’s innovative Réinventer Paris competition, aims to alleviate the city's urban housing challenges.
“Our goal is that through innovation, youthful social contact and overall community building, we have created a design that becomes uniquely important to Paris,” said Michael Green, Principal of MGA. “Just as Gustave Eiffel shattered our conception of what was possible a century and a half ago, this project can push the envelope of wood innovation with France in the forefront. The Pershing Site is the perfect moment for Paris to embrace the next era of architecture.”
The 35-story tower, "Baobab" places a heightened focus on community. With a strategic mix of market and social housing, a student hotel, urban agriculture, a bus station, e-car hub and other amenities, the proposal hopes to "foster the city's vision for a connected, vibrant metropolis" and "define the next era of city building."
MGA has become renowned for their quest to realize tall wood buildings, after publishing a report that outlines the benefits of building with wood. As they say, "When harvested responsibly, wood is the only carbon-neutral building material that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and actually sequester carbon in buildings. The wood products used would store an estimated 3,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent to keeping 2,207 cars off the road for a year, or operating a home for 982 years (Source: WoodWorks Wood Products Council Carbon Calculator)."
Shortlisted proposals for the Réinventer Paris competition are expected to be announced in summer 2015.
