Timber is increasingly recognised for its potential to reduce the embodied carbon of buildings and store carbon throughout their lifespan. However, emerging research suggests that its benefits could extend beyond environmental performance, helping to create healthier, more comfortable and more productive spaces.
Speaking at PEFC UK’s Move to Responsible Timber Construction event at Timber Square in London, Gijs Bruggink of ORGA Architects presented findings from Wood & Wellbeing, a Built by Nature-funded research project looking at the health benefits associated with timber buildings and interiors.
ORGA Architects specialises in nature-inspired architecture and the use of timber, bio-based materials and biophilic design. Its research brings together evidence from more than 100 scientific papers, reviews and industry reports, translating it into practical information for the developers, architects and other professionals who fund, design and deliver buildings.
“When people discuss timber construction, they often talk about carbon storage, renewable resources and reduced emissions,” Gijs explained. “With this report, we wanted to add health benefits to that existing dialogue.”
Creating more comfortable indoor environments
The research identifies six main areas in which timber may influence health and wellbeing. These include physical comfort, indoor air quality and hygienic properties, alongside people’s perception of timber, its potential calming effects and its influence on cognitive performance.
One of timber’s most useful characteristics is its ability to interact naturally with the surrounding environment. Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb moisture when humidity is high and release it when conditions become drier.
This moisture-buffering effect can help moderate changes in indoor humidity, supporting a more comfortable environment and reducing the conditions in which condensation and mould can develop. The thermal properties of timber structures and natural insulation materials can also help smooth fluctuations in temperature.
The effectiveness of these properties depends on how timber is used. The area of exposed wood, the species, surface treatments and the construction of the complete wall or ceiling assembly can all affect performance.
Looking at the complete indoor environment
Indoor air quality is a complex subject, and the presentation highlighted the importance of looking at the complete building rather than individual materials in isolation.
Wood naturally emits small quantities of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, with the precise composition varying according to species, age and processing. Other VOCs can be introduced through adhesives, coatings, paints, flooring, furniture, curtains, cleaning products and other elements used within a completed building.
Research presented by Gijs showed that increases in VOC levels recorded during the construction of a cross-laminated timber building coincided with the installation of furniture and curtains, rather than the timber structure itself. Although the recorded levels remained below relevant European criteria, the study demonstrated why product selection and an understanding of the whole interior specification are important.
Choosing low-emitting products and checking the adhesives, finishes and treatments used within engineered timber products can help designers manage indoor air quality while retaining the benefits of exposed wood.
The evidence reviewed also points towards potentially useful hygienic properties. Wood can absorb moisture needed by some microorganisms to survive, while its porous structure and naturally occurring compounds may inhibit their growth or transfer. Laboratory studies have found that some pathogens survive for less time on certain wood and paper surfaces than on materials such as plastic, glass and steel.
These effects can vary according to the timber species, finish and environmental conditions, so timber should not be treated as a substitute for appropriate cleaning and hygiene practices. Nevertheless, the findings provide another interesting area for future research.
Bringing nature into the places we use every day
The psychological effects of timber form a growing part of research into biophilic design, environmental psychology and neuroarchitecture.
Humans continuously respond to their surroundings, even when we are not consciously aware of doing so. Light, temperature, texture, sound and materials can all affect whether a space feels calming, stimulating, welcoming or stressful.
Biophilic design responds to our connection with the natural world by incorporating materials, textures, daylight, planting and views of nature into buildings. As a familiar natural material, wood is frequently perceived as warmer, healthier and more relaxing than more conventional construction materials.
Studies discussed during the presentation suggested that the presence of visible timber may be associated with lower stress responses and improved recovery. Other experiments have explored its possible relationship with sleep quality, cognitive performance and people’s ability to complete tasks accurately and efficiently.
This area of research is still developing, particularly when compared with the more measurable physical properties of timber. Individual preferences, cultural differences and the overall quality of a space can all influence how people respond. However, the growing evidence indicates that material choices deserve greater consideration when designing workplaces, schools, healthcare settings and homes.
ORGA Architects has applied these principles across a range of projects. In one dental practice, timber textures were combined with natural daylight and views of the surrounding landscape to create a calmer experience for patients. According to the practice, the improved environment also helped it treat patients more efficiently, demonstrating that wellbeing-led design may bring operational and commercial benefits alongside improvements to the user experience.
Responsible timber for healthier buildings
The Wood & Wellbeing research broadens the conversation about why we build with timber. Carbon reduction and material efficiency remain essential, but the buildings we create must also work for the people who occupy them.
As the evidence develops, timber and biophilic design could play an increasingly important role in delivering spaces that are comfortable, calming and supportive of human wellbeing.
Realising these benefits must go hand in hand with responsible sourcing. PEFC certification provides assurance that timber originates from responsibly managed forests and is traced through independently audited supply chains. This allows project teams to specify timber with greater confidence while supporting healthy buildings, resilient forests and a lower-carbon built environment.
Download the Wood & Wellbeing report from the ORGA Architect website
Find out more about PEFC certification for construction projects
Watch the full presentation from Gijs Bruggink below.
