Why wood is so good for us

Creating environments for working and living using a biophilic design wherever feasible is the new mantra for architects, property developers and urban planners. Whereas office buildings previously tended to be functional places for furniture and technical equipment, nowadays the emphasis is on constructing settings where people are at ease. And despite technological progress, this remains most achievable when we feel close to nature. Using bio-based materials such as timber in living spaces, offices and public facilities is especially beneficial for human health.

1. Wood boosts the immune system

The smell of forest timber has been proven to boost the immune system, as shown in a Japanese study at the Nippon Medical School. Here, natural killer cells were more active in participants who were exposed to the essential oils of the Japanese cypress for three nights. These natural killer cells are able to destroy tumour cells, for example, and are regarded as an indicator of a stronger immune system.

This is just one of the findings of a meta-study conducted at TU Munich, led by Prof. Stefan Winter. In this study, a research project on healthy interaction between wood, people and space (German: Holz Mensch Raum, hence the project name HOMERA) analysed over 42 studies that examined the effects of wood on humans and the indoor climate. The most important findings from these studies are presented here.

2. Wood reduces stress

In recent years, many studies have explored the extent to which room environments affect how we react to stress. Several of these have concluded that rooms with natural wooden surfaces reduce blood pressure, heart rate and perception of stress. In other words, wood has been proven to calm people and increase individual wellbeing.

This was put to the test in the freshly renovated waiting room at the National Oncology Institute in Bratislava to discover if its new timber design delivers what was promised. Visitors were tested before, during and after their time spent waiting in this biophilic environment. Besides checking vital signs, tests included the cortisol level, which is the most diagnostically conclusive marker of this stress hormone. Results showed that the value dropped by 7.5 percent during the period of time under review.

3. Wood improves your mood

The fact that wood is uplifting could be specifically interesting for people who find it hard to get going in the morning. Working in an office with wooden surfaces enhances your senses due to the smell and haptic quality of this natural material.

Participants in one psychological study felt more positive and noticed that their mood had brightened when they looked at a scene with natural surroundings. According to Edward O. Wilson’s biophilia hypothesis, this is because humans have not just an innate affinity for nature but also a genetically-based emotional connection with all forms of life.

4. Wood increases performance and creativity

Besides the increase in wellbeing triggered by wood, there is a noticeable rise in performance. One study explored the effect of natural environments on impulse control, in other words on the ability to control spontaneous reactions and emotional impulses, and therefore maintain focus. The test subjects displayed a quicker response time and greater concentration when they looked at nature-inclusive scenes compared with tarmac and concrete, for instance.

In addition, various research groups have already determined that wood increases creativity. A 2019 study in Slovakia concluded that spaces with natural wooden surfaces and textiles are more likely to enhance creativity than those with faux wood and synthetic textiles.

Logical thinking and perception were found to benefit as well. These results are particularly significant for the construction and design of spaces where people work and study. Over recent years, the number of schools and offices being built with timber or furnished with bespoke wooden furniture has risen.

5. Wood destroys harmful microbes

The ever more frequent use of wood in hospitals is due to the healthy and antimicrobial effects of this natural construction material. For example, a study by Freiburg University Hospital examined the suitability of wooden surfaces in wards with correspondingly high hygiene requirements.

It concluded that germs typically found in hospitals die more quickly on untreated pine heartwood (Pinus sylvestris) than on plastic surfaces like polyethylene and melamine. Therefore, this is a powerful argument in favour of using more wood in health institutions where natural materials tend to be a rare choice.

6. Wood improves the indoor climate

Processed wood can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as do other materials. However, a study has discovered that wood materials such as MDF, OSB and chipboard bind at least 50 percent of these compounds – which can sometimes be harmful – to their surface and thus significantly reduce the concentration of VOCs in interiors.

Humidity is also especially important for a healthy indoor climate and should be at between 40 and 70 percent. This reduces allergies, respiratory infections and the transmission of viruses and bacteria to a minimum. Untreated wooden surfaces act as a moisture buffer and are able to reduce fluctuations in the relative humidity by up to 70 percent, according to one research project.

Text: Gertraud Gerst
Translation: Rosemary Bridger-Lippe
Photos: Philipp Horak, Sven Hasselbach