Students from the Higher School of Wood Design and Manufacture are creating the rest areas for the Carrefour International du Bois based on the theme of eco-design.
The Carrefour International du Bois, a leading trade fair for the sector, is once again placing its trust in the Higher School of Wood by entrusting its students with the design and construction of relaxation areas for its 2026 edition. The event, which will take place from June 2 to 4 in Nantes, will see its rest areas set up by future professionals in the industry, with manufacturing starting on April 23 in the school’s workshops.
A project at the heart of the sector’s challenges This initiative comes at a time when decarbonization of construction has become a priority. The building sector in France is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for 21% of national emissions. The Higher School of Wood is training its students to address ecological challenges by promoting the use of bio-based materials and sustainable practices, from forest management to production.
Organized by FiBois Pays de la Loire, the Carrefour International du Bois is a global showcase that brings together nearly 650 exhibitors every two years. For students, this collaboration is a unique opportunity to showcase their skills in front of professionals from around the world. The requirements include enhancing often unused spaces (corridors, mezzanines) based on the principles of eco-design, recycling, and reuse, while ensuring optimal comfort for visitors.
From concept to prototype, the “Speed Challenge” The design phase took place last October during a “Speed Challenge.” Over an intensive week, first-year engineering students and professional license students in wood and furniture worked under the direction of Anthony Bordron, an independent designer and founder of Vlotek. After a brainstorming phase, the teams produced scale models to present their concepts.
“For us, it’s a bit stressful to know that it’s a real project, which will host the public and must therefore meet precise specifications, that our ideas are subject to selection by the fair’s organizers, and that our colleagues will have to take over to implement them. But it’s also very motivating,” said Maell Volland, a first-year engineering student.
Moving on to production at full scale Géraldine Cesbron, the fair’s commissioner, and Rachel Montier, employment-training officer for FiBois Pays de la Loire, selected several projects, including low seating, standing tables, and screens. The students in the second and third year of the Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering will manufacture these “breathing spaces” during the week of April 20.
Supervised by their digital production teacher, Jean-Loup Didillon, the students will assemble the structures in the school’s workshop. “It’s always very rewarding for our students to work for one of the biggest events in the industry. They realize that their training is truly aligned with the reality of the field and market expectations,” said Jean-Loup Didillon. The structures will then be installed at the ExpoNantes site the day before the fair opens.
Since 1934, the Higher School of Wood (https://www.esb-campus.fr/) has been training specialists in wood and bio-based materials. Each year, 500 students pursue engineering, Bachelor’s, and BTS degrees in Nantes and Lyon, preparing for careers in wood resources, commerce, industry, and construction.
The project was supervised by Anthony Bordron, a freelance designer and graduate of the Boulle School. He is also the co-founder of PAILLEline, which designs temporary bike lanes, and founder of Vlotek (https://www.vlotek.com/), a kit that transforms a standard bike into a cargo bike.
