Public housing in La Goutte D’Or, Paris, by Atelier FUSO

By Editorial Staff - 22 September 2025

In the vibrant La Goutte d’Or neighborhood in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, a new construction project has brought together tradition and sustainability. Comprising 14 dwellings and one retail outlet at 39 rue Myrha, this development by Atelier FUSO aims to merge the neighborhood’s historic fabric with responses to today’s environmental challenges.

A neighborhood with a rich, varied heritage

Publing housing a La Goutte D’Or - FUSO © Antoine Seguin, courtesy FUSO

La Goutte d’Or – a name that recalls the golden color of the wine once produced in Montmartre’s vineyards – is a historic working-class neighborhood with a varied urban fabric. The local building stock includes traditional working-class homes with exposed wooden beams, neighborhood shops, and multi-story buildings with street-level shops, beauty salons, and restaurants – all evidence of architecture shaped over time that reflects the histories and identities of the local residents. While a new housing development here is much needed, it also needs to both respect and establish a continuity with the neighborhood’s identity.

Commitment to sustainable architecture

Publing housing a La Goutte D’Or - FUSO © Jamet Guedj, courtesy FUSO

Aware of the challenges posed by climate change and environmental limits, the design team adopted an approach that was both innovative and sustainable. The project was developed in collaboration with LM Ingénieur, a firm specialized in wood construction that had previously worked locally on pioneering projects, including the affordable housing development at 37 rue Myrha. Completed in 2014, this building features a metal and wood frame with hemp concrete infill panels – a true first for Paris. LM Ingénieur’s experience has helped it develop an environmental approach that looks at the building’s full life cycle and anticipates RE2020 regulations.

Publing housing a La Goutte D’Or - FUSO © Jamet Guedj, courtesy FUSO

Technical and construction choices prioritize low-carbon materials, with particular attention given to occupant comfort and reduced environmental impact. As regards energy, the approach reuses resources, such as rainwater and waste heat, to improve overall energy efficiency.

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Wood-frame construction and intelligent reuse

Publing housing a La Goutte D’Or - FUSO © Jamet Guedj, courtesy FUSO

© Jamet Guedj

The project is notable for its approach to material recovery and reuse. The street façade, for example, is built with reclaimed bricks from Belgium laid in a regular pattern with large openings that reveal the depth of the wall assembly. Publing housing a La Goutte D’Or - FUSO © Antoine Seguin, courtesy FUSO

Structurally, the design team opted for wood-frame construction from the first floor upward to make it possible to use a lighter lifting system for prefabricated panels instead of a tower crane. Wood was also chosen to produce a relatively light building, given the site’s poor bearing capacity, instead of a full-concrete structure that would have required more complex and expensive foundations. Wood also offers low-carbon benefits and, with complete prefabrication, allows simpler on-site construction compared with cast concrete.

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Cover image: © Jamet Guedj, courtesy of FUSO

Publing housing a La Goutte D’Or - FUSO © Antoine Seguin, courtesy FUSO