As the global construction industry pivots toward lower-carbon and more resource-efficient building models, timber is emerging as a key material in the sector’s transformation, finding growing traction beyond housing and into commercial, public and infrastructure projects.
Against this backdrop, industry players gathering at the Carrefour International du Bois (CIB) exhibition in Nantes, France this month (June 2 to 4) are set to explore the new dynamics and spotlight a new wave of innovation centred on off-site construction, bio-based materials and adaptive design.
For Maxime Baudrand (Wood Construction Prescriber – Fibois Pays de la Loire), the shift is clear: while individual housing is slowing down, the strongest growth is now seen in non-residential buildings and multi-family housing.
“The size of projects is increasing, but the number is decreasing. The wood sector is strong and has a largely underutilised production capacity. The RE2020 regulation is helping to drive the development of wood. Companies are ready to absorb a massive demand, provided materials are combined and the sector moves toward standardisation for the new-build market,” Baudrand said.
Towards new dynamics for 2026
In construction, the traditional approach – characterised by decisions made progressively on-site – is shifting toward more anticipatory design. For Karine Bouhier, Co-Director of LCA Construction, this transformation is driven by off-site construction, which not only optimises timelines and saves time, but also reduces on-site waste.
“We are now entering an era of frugality, where the goal is to ‘do better with less,’ prioritising building reversibility and the reuse of existing materials rather than systematic demolition,” she said.
In her view, the challenge in the coming years no longer lies in ‘all-wood’ construction, but in using the material in the right proportion, particularly in renovation and non-residential projects. Let’s prioritise uses by incorporating more wood overall, but less per building.”
Bio-based materials at the heart of CIB
For the upcoming edition, Carrefour International du Bois is taking a new step by highlighting bio-based materials with a dedicated space at the heart of the event.
Designed as a true hub for inspiration and demonstration, this area will showcase concrete solutions integrating wood, straw, hemp, and natural insulation, in response to the decarbonisation challenges of the construction sector.
The programme will include live demonstrations, presentations of exemplary projects, models, feedback sessions, and expert talks to illustrate the growing importance of these materials in construction and renovation projects.
“By bringing together project owners, specifiers, developers, and companies, this space aims to accelerate the adoption of bio-based materials and support stakeholders in scaling up their use. It is an initiative aligned with regulatory developments and market expectations, where environmental performance and construction innovation are becoming inseparable,” emphasises Géraldine Cesbron, General Commissioner of the event.
Focus on two emblematic timber structures
These trends are already visible in landmark projects across Europe, according to the organiser.
The Faculty of Health Sciences at the Universidad Pública de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, is a benchmark in sustainable construction. Designed by VArquitectos and Bryaxis Arquitectos and built by the ACR-Guillén consortium, the faculty made wood its main structural material.
The above-ground structure combines glulam beams and columns with Sylva CLT floor slabs, making it the largest timber building in Navarre.
Spanning over 13,500 sq m, it includes 22 classrooms, around a dozen laboratories, one auditorium, and flexible spaces designed to evolve with academic needs. In total, 1,500 students, teachers, and researchers will be able to work in an environment designed for the future.
Another example is the future Lycée Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu, designed by Forma6 studio, the largest first-category public access building (ERP) in France entirely insulated with straw and hemp wool.
The building focuses on optimising insulation and solar protection, as well as applying the Avoid-Reduce-Compensate (ERC) approach to limit the project’s impact on land use (a four-storey building with one wing built along the property boundary). The building received the HQE Sustainable Building certification in 2023.