Wood & Wellbeing
How wooden spaces benefit us, backed by science
Why do we feel more at ease in a room with wood features? The causes for this intuitive and positive response have been the topic of research for decennia. For this report, we gathered everything science knows on the subject, which ranges from human comfort and hygienic properties to wood’s calming effect and cognitive benefits. The result is a complete overview of how wood affects our health — and what that means for the way we design buildings.
Who is it for
Wood & Wellbeing brings together decades of research into the relationship between wood and health: peer-reviewed studies, industry reports, and white papers. The report is written for anyone who designs buildings, commissions them, or makes decisions about them: developers, investors, architects, building companies, and government organisations.
Although the publication is based on scientific evidence, you don’t need to be a biologist or a physicist to follow along. Each chapter can be read on multiple levels: from quick-scan summaries to case studies to the details of the underlying studies, for those who want to dig deeper.
What does it contain
- Scientific research, summarised from dozens of peer-reviewed studies and research experiments
- Real-world examples, completed timber buildings that show what theory can look like in practice
- Deep dives, providing technical background and explanation for anyone who wants to get into the details
- Summaries, quick recaps presenting the essence of each chapter for anyone who just wants the gist, fast
- Practical guidelines, concrete recommendations for design and material choices, ready to apply to your own projects
Download the Wood & Wellbeing report
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Who wrote it
Wood & Wellbeing was written by researcher Gijs Bruggink, with support from architects Ralf van Tongeren and Daan Bruggink. International experts in timber and healthy buildings advised on its development, from institutes and organisations including TU Delft, Built by Nature, Terrapin Bright Green, InnoRenew, and Forestry Innovation Investment.
The project was funded by ORGA architect and Built by Nature. ORGA has been designing and building with natural materials for 20+ years, and the findings collected in this report are part of the reason why we do so. Built by Nature is a European non-profit network that helps accelerate the construction sector’s shift toward more timber and biobased building, in part by connecting industry players and funding projects.
Would you like to know more about biobased materials, carbon impact, or implementing biophilic and regenerative design?
Odds are we’ve run into it before during our 20+ years of designing and building timber architecture. Feel free to reach out with your questions!