About the Project
The Urban Woods in Delft represents a bold step toward a new generation of sustainable urban living. Designed as a fully timber-structured residential building, it demonstrates how cities can grow without increasing their environmental footprint. In a world where almost 70% of people are expected to live in cities by 2050, Urban Woods offers a tangible solution: building for the future without relying on carbon-intensive materials like concrete.
The project replaces the traditional concrete core of high-rise buildings with a beam-and-column structure and cross laminated timber (CLT) floors, relocating the stability elements to the façades for added rigidity. Remarkably, even the elevator core is made of wood — making Urban Woods the tallest residential building in the Netherlands without a concrete core.
This innovation significantly reduces the building’s carbon footprint. From the start of its life cycle, the timber structure stores more CO₂ than it emits, achieving a net-negative carbon impact. The design further integrates solar panels, smart sensors, and advanced insulation systems to ensure efficient heating and cooling, as well as a water management system that reduces consumption by up to 60% compared to conventional buildings.
Beyond environmental performance, Urban Woods emphasizes social connection and well-being. Residents will enjoy spacious, modern apartments complemented by 350 m² of shared amenities — including work and leisure spaces, a rooftop garden, and even a hot tub. A dedicated on-site Ranger supports residents and fosters community, while the building’s interiors are designed to encourage spontaneous encounters and reduce urban loneliness. Urban Woods thus merges climate-positive construction with human-centered design, setting a new benchmark for sustainable urban housing.
About the Remover
The Urban Woods project was developed by The Urban Woods in collaboration with leading engineers and sustainability experts committed to redefining how cities grow. With a mission to create homes that are both regenerative and socially engaging, Urban Woods pioneers a scalable approach to timber-based urban living.
By building with certified wood and circular design principles, Urban Woods captures and stores carbon that would otherwise remain in the atmosphere. The carbon removal credits associated with the building are submitted and managed by Urban Woods, ensuring transparency and accountability in how the long-term carbon storage within the timber structure is verified and maintained.
Revenue from the sale of Carbon Removal Units (CRUs) will be reinvested into the companies long-term sustainability, biodiversity enhancements, and community development initiatives. Together, the team behind Urban Woods showcases how innovation, collaboration, and circular design can transform cities into places that store carbon, foster community, and regenerate nature.
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