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With most people in Western countries spending the majority of their time indoors—and with strong evidence1,3 showing that green spaces and natural environments enhance well-being—a growing field of research is now exploring whether incorporating wood and other natural elements indoors can offer similar benefits. The materials in our living spaces have the potential to positively or negatively impact our health and well-being. Creating health-oriented indoor environments should be a priority for building developers, architects, and interior designers. Since natural environments improve wellness, there is growing interest in how materials like wood—often present in these settings—can influence indoor health.
Natural materials like hardwood undeniably shape our experience of a space. Whether their impact is psychological, physiological, or both, they can significantly enhance our overall well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” Many health-focused eco-labels for buildings prioritize volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while overlooking other key wellness factors like stress, productivity, heart rate, and overall satisfaction. This piece takes a more holistic approach, highlighting research on these often-overlooked wellness markers and showcasing real-world applications that inspire designers worldwide.
Evidence-based Design
One emerging methodology used to evaluate a wide range of health-related markers is evidence-based design (EBD). EBD is a relatively new approach that aims to promote health and optimize outcomes using scientifically credible evidence. It is increasingly used in designing health-oriented spaces. EBD follows an eight-step process to gather data and inform design decisions in various built environments, such as hospitals. This piece highlights case studies examining the health benefits of wood to inform design professionals and practitioners of EBD. Healthcare environments have long embraced evidence-based design, as hospitals present some of the most complex challenges for architects and designers. Similarly, other high-use spaces like schools and offices are increasingly integrating EBD principles. A recent study conducted at the National Oncology Institute in Bratislava compared a wooden waiting room with a control, monitoring EEG (electroencephalograph), ECG (electrocardiograph), heart rate, respiration activity, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and emotions from faces. Wooden materials positively influence the human nervous system by offering aesthetic appeal (color, texture, and structure), a comfortable tactile experience, a pleasant scent, humidity regulation, low VOC emissions, and improved acoustic properties.4.
Case Studies
Across Europe, several documented efforts by architect groups have been made to transform the design approach at healthcare facilities. In Denmark, the New North Zealand Hospital exemplifies the integration of natural elements to promote healing. The hospital features extensive use of wood both in its façade and interior spaces. This choice of material not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to creating a homely atmosphere, aiming to reduce patient stress and promote faster recovery. The incorporation of wood aligns with the hospital's commitment to healing architecture, blending seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape to provide a comforting environment for patients and visitors alike.
In Spain, an innovative nature and wood-centric cancer center design was completed by architects Benedetta Tagliabue (EMBT) and interior designer Patricia Urquiola. Inside are communal spaces (kitchen, living room, and small library) that feature hardwood decorative elements, wooden detailing, and furniture.
The Peter Rosegger Nursing Home in Graz, Austria, designed by Dietger Wissounig Architekten, exemplifies the harmonious integration of locally sourced wood throughout its structure. The two-story building features an untreated Austrian larch façade, while the interior showcases visible wooden paneling, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for residents. Structurally, the nursing home employs a prefabricated passive house wooden construction, utilizing a wooden frame with cross-laminated timber walls and wooden beams. This thoughtful use of wood not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to a comfortable and friendly ambiance, aligning with the goal of providing residents with a homely environment.
More European EBD architects and projects include the LT Project by Dutch health architects, Gesundheitseinrichtung Josefhof, and others. In the U.S., there is a similar movement. In Austin, Interior Architects (IA) designed a beautiful Hickory wood ceiling and matching wooden detailing in an office space and cafe.
A design by Corgan at the Toyota North American HQ in Plano, Texas, takes another sustainability-driven design focus and feelings of “connection” by featuring walnut wood heavily throughout.
The Swedish design company Gustafs features innovative wood products (such as acoustic wooden panels) and a stories page on its website that further explains the importance of natural materials softening the design environment.
Awareness of potential health risks is important, but an excessive focus on avoiding the negative can overshadow the ability to recognize and prioritize positive choices. This is especially true for those shaping our built environments—architects, designers, commercial developers, and specifiers—who strive to create spaces that capture the essence of the present moment.
Ambiance, by definition, is the character or atmosphere of a place—the mood it evokes and the experience it offers. When thoughtfully designed, it transforms a space into something timeless and immersive, enhancing both well-being and functionality.
The amount of light, openness, types of structures or materials, and exposure to colors or the elements we perceive illicit specific physiological responses. The structural components and the aesthetic and decorative aspects of a design or functional space, like shelves, window framings, furniture, and so forth, are made of different components, all contributing to an ambiance. But how does the ambiance of natural or non-natural materials impact health?
Scientific Studies
To understand the scientific reasoning behind these design choices, let’s examine studies investigating the human nervous system’s perception of materials. The progression and focus of these studies have changed through the years. According to Ikei et al., 2016, early studies on wooden material therapy investigated the effects of temperature and humidity, followed by studies on the impact of stimuli on the senses using subjective evaluation indexes, and more recently, experiments based on physiological response indexes have been conducted6. In 2014, staff from the University of British Columbia1 conducted a study investigating whether indoor wood surfaces might also provide some health effects. The study found that using wood surfaces indoors is one way to reduce stress and promote health in building occupants. By monitoring heart rate and skin conductivity, the study observed that stress, measured by sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation, was lower in a wood-designed room (office furniture and blinds) versus non-wood control office spaces. A similar study2 monitoring employee mood in two different office environments found lower anxiety and more relaxation associated with the wooden room than the control.
A Japanese study published in the Journal of Wood Science investigated the visual effects of wooden room interiors on human pulse rate, blood pressure, and brain activity based on different ratios of rooms filled with wood (0% wood, 45% wood, and 90% wood). The study demonstrated that a difference in the wood ratio in the interior caused different physiological responses; the 45% room tended to have the highest scores in subjective “comfortable” feeling while also decreasing blood pressure5. In 2022, Stanford University conducted a large-scale study to examine how different design elements—such as materials, windows, and artwork reflecting diverse identities—impact well-being. Researchers measured factors like the sense of belonging, stress levels, creativity, and environmental awareness using both physiological sensors and participant surveys. Consistent with the hypotheses, participants exposed to natural materials and windows during a stress-inducing task had lower negative stress impacts across various metrics7. Michael Burnard, a prolific researcher on human health and the built environment, has emphasized the importance of creating healthful indoor environments and that it should be a priority for building designers, and evidence-based design decisions should be used to ensure the built environment provides healthful benefits to occupants.
Armed with scientific studies and creative inspiration, designers' potential to use natural elements like wood is limitless and has proven to impact health. Designers have much to consider, including eco-labels, regulations, and customer needs. Utilizing this resource and the more extensive inventory of published studies will support the designer’s contribution to healthy working environments. By thoughtfully integrating wood into design, architects and designers can manipulate ambiance to foster environments that look good and improve health, increase productivity, and create a sense of comfort and well-being.
References
Fell, D., FP Innovations. 2014. Wood & Human Health Series. University of British Columbia.
Ojala, A., Kostensalo, J., Viik, J., Matilainen, H., Wik, I., Virtanen, L., & Muilu-Mäkelä, R. (2023b). Psychological and physiological effects of a wooden office room on human well-being: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 89, 102059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102059
Bowler, D.E., Buyung-Ali, L.M., Knight, T.M. et al. A systematic review of the evidence for the added benefits to health exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health 10, 456 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-456
Kotradyova, V., Vavrinsky, E., Kalinakova, B., Petro, D., Jansakova, K., Boles, M., & Svobodova, H. (2019). Wood and its impact on humans and environment quality in health care facilities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(18), 3496. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183496
Tsunetsugu, Y., Miyazaki, Y. & Sato, H. Physiological effects in humans induced by the visual stimulation of room interiors with different wood quantities. J Wood Sci 53, 11–16 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-006-0812-5
Ikei, H., Song, C. & Miyazaki, Y. Physiological effects of wood on humans: a review. J Wood Sci 63, 1–23 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-016-1597-9
Douglas, I. P., Murnane, E. L., Bencharit, L. Z., Altaf, B., Costa, J. M. D. R., Yang, J., Ackerson, M., Srivastava, C., Cooper, M., Douglas, K., King, J., Paredes, P. E., Camp, N. P., Mauriello, M. L., Ardoin, N. M., Markus, H. R., Landay, J. A., & Billington, S. L. (2022). Physical workplaces and human well-being: A mixed-methods study to quantify the effects of materials, windows, and representation on biobehavioral outcomes. Building and Environment, 224, 109516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109516