2024-03-23 08:18:59
While concrete buildings are flourishing throughout the country, wooden buildings are a rare commodity. “Often, wooden constructions are not economically viable», explains Eric Boscherie, regional director of Vinci Immobilier. The Accords Boisés project, which will include 70 housing units and will be delivered in February 2025 in Angers, will be exclusively made of wood, both the floors and the facade of the building, with the exception of the parking lot on the ground floor which will be in concrete. The production cost is around 2,300 euros per square meter compared to 1,800 euros for a concrete building. “We lose 2 to 3% on our margin compared to a concrete building», Recognizes Tristan Desclos Le Peley, program director at Vinci Immobilier, the developer of the residence.
But then why take on this crazy and less profitable bet? “Wood is a carbon sink: one cubic meter of wood is one ton of CO2 stored. With Accords Boisés, we have 950 tonnes of wood and therefore 950 tonnes of CO2 stored», underlines Tristan Desclos Le Peley. It is also a recyclable commodity. “Wooden housing also contributes to a feeling of well-being», says Eric Boscherie. The wood used here comes from sustainable forests. “Not all housing could be built from wood. This would lose its meaning and its biological balance», continues the program director.
Apartments at 4,850 euros per square meter
Building a building entirely out of wood is a real challenge: “To ensure acoustic protection, we had to build 50 centimeter floors while a 20 centimeter concrete floor is enough to guarantee acoustic performance.», explains architect Johanne San. The cost of wood, higher than that of concrete, is necessarily passed on to buyers even if the Accords Boisés price still remains affordable. The price per square meter is around 4,850 euros while the median price per square meter is 3,500 euros in the city. “Household budgets are tight, we are not going to add another layer by burdening them with the higher price of wood», lance Eric Boscherie.
There are still eight homes for sale, 72 apartments have already left: half of the homes have been sold to investors and 15 homes have been sold to Action Logement to offer intermediate rental housing, halfway between social housing and private housing, which benefits from capped rents, lower than market prices. Families are also positioning themselves in the niche. Each accommodation benefits from a double exposure and an outdoor space.
Another project developed by Vinci Immobilier in Angers and delivered at the end of May 2024, Arborescence, in concrete this time, with a height of 28 meters, visible from all sides, includes 29 apartments offered at 8,000 euros per square meter. The tree-shaped project includes a senior residence, a nursery and housing as well as a massage parlor. “It is the most expensive operation in Angers. The construction of this building was a real technical challenge. It is a totemic, iconic and extraordinary operation which is a lasting part of the Angevin skyline.», concludes Eric Boscherie.
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