Wood
Nature Inspired Design

An update of the Wood – Housing, Health, Humanity ReportContents

Figure 1. Wood and nature connected design.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

2

About This Report3

Acknowledgements

3

Executive Summary

4

Wood – Nature Inspired Design

5

Why Wood?

5

Our Need for Nature

6

Love of Life and Nature

7

Cashing in on Nature
Connected Design

20

Be Certain it’s Certified

21

What About Fire Safety?

22

Design to Last

23

Showcasing Wood

24

Dandenong Mental Health Centre

24
25

Bringing Nature into the
Built Environment

8

Marist College Bendigo
Montagne Centre

Restorative Environments

9

Melbourne School of Design

26

Wood and Nature
Connected Design

10

The Village Centre,
National Arboretum, Canberra

27

Biomorphic Forms– Shapes of Nature

10

Tempe House, Tempe, NSW

28

Health Benefits of Wood

12

The Library at the Dock,
Victoria Harbour, Melbourne

29

Wood – A Raft of Benefits

12

Conclusion

30

Benefits on the Body

13

Benefits on the Brain

15

Planet Ark Nature
Related Research

31

Benefits on the Air

16

References

32

Visual Appeal, Natural Look

17

Index of Photographs

33

Rating Nature Connected Design19AboutThis
ReportThis report is an update and extension of
the Wood – Housing, Health, Humanity
released by Planet Ark to coincide withWorld Wood Day 2015. The aim of theoriginal report was to examine current
literature and empirical studies assessing
the benefits of using wood in an indoor
environment. That report also presented theresults of a survey commissioned by Planet
Ark and conducted by research consultancy
Pollinate in September of the previous year.
The survey focused on the current opinions
and attitudes of Australians towards woodalong with their exposure to it at home,
work and school (1003 Australians aged 1464 years old and nationally representativein terms of age, gender and location weresurveyed online).
This new report Wood – Nature Inspired
Design builds on that original work andintroduces the concept of biophilia – anaffinity with nature or the love of all things
natural – with a focus on the use of woodin biophilic, or nature connected design.
The report looks at published research fromaround the world showing the health andwellbeing benefits of exposure to this mostancient and modern material.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

Acknowledgements
Planet Ark’s Make It Wood program hasdeveloped this report with support from
Forest and Wood Products Australia’s
Wood Solutions and Wood. Naturally Better
programs. The research and report writing
was undertaken by Planet Ark staff member
Dr Sean O’Malley, with advice, research andediting assistance by Brad Gray and David
Rowlinson. The report includes elementsfrom the 2015 review written by Dr Amanda
Cameron. Attitudinal research was managed
by Bernard Visperas from Pollinate withgraphic design by Slade Smith. Planet
Ark is grateful to a number of designers
and photographers whose work has been
included in this report, as detailed in thetables on page 33.

Figure 2. Humans gain healthand wellbeing benefits fromexposure to this most ancientand modern material.

3

Executive
Summary
Over recent years there has been an
increasing recognition of the benefits thathumans gain from contact with trees andnature. Modern society has changed its
relationship with nature. In the space ofa single generation children’s play has
moved from outdoors to indoors, the iconic
backyard has shrunk, parents have become
increasingly anxious about children’s safety,
working hours and stress levels have risen
and technology (especially screens) has
encroached into almost all areas of life.
The health and happiness benefits
associated with spending time outside innature are well known and have been studied
extensively by the scientific community andreported on by Planet Ark. This love of timein nature has been termed biophilia1,2 andexplains our innate need to connect with
the natural world. This relationship can beextended into the built environment where
we work, rest and play. This report outlines
the importance of connecting buildings with
the natural world and how with ‘Nature
Connected Design’ (biophilic design3) andusing wood we can bring nature indoors andprovide a healthier, happier environment.
Some of the elements of nature connected
design are discussed and how these canbe realised through the use of thoughtful
construction and the use of wood. Natureconnected design is not a prescriptive list;
WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGNThe Benefits of Wood andNature Connected Design

rather it is a series of principles that can be
blended into variable palettes to reflect thebenefits of time spent in nature.

Improves air
quality bymoderating
humidity

Improves
emotional state
andself-expression

Reduced stressresponse (pulse
rate and bloodpressure)

Helps toreconnect us
to nature

Wood is the
only renewablebuilding
material

Long-term
store of carbon,
helping to fightclimate change

Low energy usedin production,
hence less CO2 in
the atmosphere

Certification
ensures timber
comes fromsustainablesources

Additionally, this report updates our previous
review of studies analysing the health andwellbeing benefits of wooden interiors inhomes, businesses, places of learning andplaces for healing, along with the results of an
independent survey identifying the attitudes
and opinions of Australians on wood.
Multiple physiological, psychological andenvironmental benefits have been identified
for wooden interiors:• Improvements to a person’s emotional
state and level of self-expression• Reduced blood pressure, heart rate andstress levels• Improved air quality through humidity
moderation• Its use as a long-term store of carbon,
helping to fight climate change
Surveyed Australians appear to be innately
drawn towards wood. The results indicatethat wood elicits feelings of warmth, comfort
and relaxation and creates a link to nature.
However, Australians, appear to still be
confused about wood certification.
Promoting nature connected design and thebenefits gained from using timber to the generalpublic, home owners, designers and architects
is therefore of significant importance.
4

Figure 3. The benefits of woodand nature connected design.

This report was produced by Planet Ark’s Make It Wood programwith support from Wood Solutions and Wood. Naturally Better.

Wood –NatureInspired
DesignFigure 4. Wood is being increasingly used forits positive impacts on health and wellbeing.

Why Wood?

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

5Wood comes from trees and is a natural,
renewable resource, with no two pieces being
identical. Its final appearance is dependent
on a number of variables, including species,
geographic area where the tree grew, growth
conditions, size of the tree at harvest, sawing
and other manufacturing processes. Woodis one of the oldest building materials usedby humanity and with recent technologicaldevelopments it is also one of the mostmodern.

The energy consumed in the production oftimber, called embodied energy, is much
lower than other building materials, whichmeans that by using more wood in the built
environment as a replacement for carbonintensive materials such as aluminium, steel orconcrete, it is possible to significantly reducethe carbon emissions in the construction ofhomes, schools, hospitals, offices and public

Responsibly sourced, certified timber is the
only major building material that helps totackle climate change. As trees grow they
absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphereand, through photosynthesis, convert this
into sugars that form the compounds thatcomprise wood. Approximately 50 per centof the dry weight of wood is carbon, which
remains locked in the wood for the life of the
product. Timber is also the only renewablebuilding material currently available.

Although wood has ancient roots and has
been used in every culture in the world since
before the Stone Age it is experiencing arevival in use. Responsibly sourced andcertified wood is now seen as an important
tool in combating the risks of climate change.
However, the use of wood in the built
environment is being increasingly used forits positive impacts on health, wellbeing andproductivity, producing similar effects to thosecreated by spending time outside in nature.

buildings4,5

Our Need for Nature
As far back as 1995 Planet Ark knew the valueof spending time in nature and organised thefirst National Tree Day. Over the intervening
21 years nearly 4 million people have planted
over 23 million trees right across Australia.
The event began primarily focusing on theenvironmental benefits of plants and trees;
producing oxygen, filtering the air, removing
carbon from the atmosphere, stabilising soil,
providing essential habitat for native animals
and beautifying neighbourhoods.

Figure 5. Wood creates
increased levels ofhappiness and self esteem.

Over recent years there has been an
increasing recognition of the benefits thathumans gain from contact with trees andnature. Modern society has changed its
relationship with nature. In the space of asingle generation children’s play moved fromoutdoors to indoors, the iconic backyard
shrunk, parents became increasingly anxious
about their children’s safety, working hours
and stress levels rose and technology(especially screens) encroached into almost
all areas of life.
The health and happiness benefits associatedwith spending time outside in nature are wellknown and have been studied extensively by
the scientific community and reported on by
Planet Ark6.
These known benefits include:•

Increased levels of happiness and selfesteem7,8•

Increased cognitive abilities9,10•Decreased stress response, bloodpressure, pulse rates and cholesterollevels11,12

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

6

Love of Life andNatureThe need and enjoyment of nature has beencalled ‘biophilia’, meaning ‘love of life orliving systems’. The term was first used by
Erich Fromm1, back in 1964, to describe thepsychological orientation of being attracted
to all that is alive and vital. This term was
popularised by the scientist, Edward O.
Wilson13 who introduced the hypothesis in
his book, Biophilia (1984)2. The hypothesis
suggests that there is an instinctive bond
between human beings and other living
systems. Wilson uses the term in the same
sense when he suggests that biophilia
describes “the connections that humanbeings subconsciously seek with the restof life.” He proposed the possibility that the
deep affiliations humans have with other life
forms and nature as a whole are rooted inour biology.
Increasing urbanisation rates mean thatpeople have less access to nature in their
daily lives and Australians on average

Understanding how toincorporate the physiologicaland psychological benefits ofnature into indoor environments
is an increasingly important areaof research.
Figure 6. Nature connected designreflects the link between the naturaland built environments.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

7

now spend over 90 per cent of their timeindoors92. This disconnect with nature andthe outdoors corresponds with reports ofincreasing levels of obesity14 and nearly halfof Australians experiencing a mental healthcondition within their lifetime15.
As it is not always possible to increase ourtime spent outside, particularly in areas
like workplaces, schools and hospitals,
understanding how to incorporate thephysiological and psychological benefits ofnature into our indoor environments is anincreasingly important area of research.
Studies have demonstrated that simply
having a view of nature from a window
can have significant positive effects, suchas shorter postoperative hospital stays16,
induced feelings of relaxation in patientsat rehabilitation centres17, and improved
comfort levels of employees in offices18. Not
surprisingly the presence of indoor plants
has also been shown to have benefits, suchas improved cognitive functioning in officeenvironments19, increased tolerance of pain
in hospital20 and lowered blood pressure andheart rate21.
The incorporation of nature and its
components into building design has
been termed ‘biophilic design’. To aid
the community and decision makers tounderstand the concepts that underpin
biophilia and biophilic design we have used
the more descriptive term ‘nature connected
design’. It reflects the link between thenatural and built environments.

Bringing Nature
into the Built
Environment
Nature connected design is a responseto the need to bring nature into the built
environment. It combines the design theory,
science, art and practice of bringing buildings
to life and aims to provide the connection
with nature in the environments where we live
and work in every day 3.
Nature connected design is a synthesisof principles for designing the places
where people live, work, heal and learn. It
recognises that we need nature in a deep
and fundamental fashion, but we have often
designed our cities and suburbs in ways thatboth degrade the environment and separate
people from it.
There is now a large body of work on urban
planning and green cities, both globally andacross Australia, which demonstrates asignificant and beneficial role for including
nature and green infrastructure22. The
inclusion of trees, green roofs and verticalgardens are increasingly seen as importantfor healthy and happy cities. Good design,with the inclusion of nature into theurban environment, now termed biophilicurbanism, is increasingly being shown tohave demonstrable benefits for not only ourphysical environment23 but also our health24.
A recent study highlighted the inclusion ofgreen areas, particularly trees, helps reduce
particulate matter and the high temperaturesassociated with urban areas, both of which
can have significant negative impacts

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

on human health25. In Australia there is asignificant movement to increase the amountof green space and trees in urban areas, withprojects such as the 202020 Vision whichseeks to increase the amount of green spacein our urban areas by 20 per cent by 202026,27.
Other projects28 are focused on greening
rooftop areas to provide access to green
spaces for urban workers and residents.
Not only does the inclusion of nature in theurban environment provide significant benefits
for our mental health and happiness, it is
now being closely studied for the economic
benefits provided to urban areas29,30.
Creating a nature connected urban
environment is not just about the externalsurrounds; nature connected design also
integrates natural elements into the living andworking environments. Nature connected
design seeks to establish a new framework
to bring the connection with nature into thebuilt environment. Good design creates a
habitat where we, the human organism,
can derive the health and fitness benefits
associated with time in nature.

Figure 7. Lendlease’s breathing
wall – bringing nature into thebuilt environment.

8

The practice of nature connected design has
been developed into a series of principles,
experiences and design attributes31, which
are required as fundamental conditions for its
effective implementation32. Nature connected
design requires a repeated and sustainable
connection with nature, with a focus on
the elements that are linked to our health,fitness and wellbeing. This includes creating
emotional links with the environment thatare about positive interactions that increase
our relationship and care for the human andnatural communities. Architecture is used toreinforce and connect us in this relationship.
Nature connected design includes a multitudeof elements that stimulate the human senses,
including sight, touch and even olfactory.
Natural elements are used to enhance thebuilt environment. Plants, natural views, light,
water, airflow, and temperature are all part of
the available repertoire. Nature connected
design is not a prescriptive list; rather it isa series of principles that can be blended
into variable palettes. Cultures and societies
across the planet use different forms
and designs that reflect local conditions
and histories. Research has identified six
dimensions and seventy elements of natureconnected design3.

Nature connected design is
not a prescriptive list; rather
it is a series of principles
that can be blended into
variable palettes.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

Restorative
Environments
Ideas as to why time in nature and natureconnected design positively impact people
include the Attention Restoration Theory33
and Stress Recovery Theory34. These
theories suggest that some environments
are inherently stressful, some are not andothers can actively help people recover fromstress and mental fatigue. Built environmentsthat evoke positive moods have properties
that draw people’s attention without being
stressful or demanding and can help people
recover more quickly and fully from mental
fatigue and stress are known are restorativeenvironments35,36. A restorative environment
will be observed as a healing, healthy andtherapeutic environment, which contributes topeople’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Nature connected design provides benefits
through a number of proposed routes37,
including:•Stress reduction - lowering of bloodpressure, heart rate, stress hormones
and a sense of wellbeing•

Cognitive performance - improved mental
engagement, alertness, concentration,
physiologicalandpsychologicalresponsiveness•Emotion, mood and preference - positive
attitude, happiness, tranquillity, mental
health, pleasure, comfort, safety anddopamine levels

A 201538 study explored the relationshipbetween office workers’ psychological wellbeing, work environments and employee

9

expectations. For many workers, the designof an office was important in their decision
to work at a company. The presence ofplants and other natural elements werealso identified as important. The report also
showed national and cultural differences wereapparent, with Australians identifying the useof wood in office design and furnishings
as contributing to greater productivity. The
authors identified that there is a high cost toAustralian business from a loss in productivity
from the impact of stress on the health ofworkers (Medibank39,40). Considering thepositive benefits posed by nature connected

design, there is a clear potential to improve
worker health.
Australians identified the following naturalelements in office settings as being beneficial:•

Window views of trees, both natural andpurposely planted, was associated withgreater levels of happiness•

Views of trees though windows, and theuse of the colour green, was linked togreater creativity•

Wooden office fixtures and fittings, aswell as the use of blue, was associatedwith greater productivity

Figure 8. Restorative environments help people to recover more quickly.

Wood and Nature
Connected Design

Biomorphic Forms –Shapes of Nature

Timber is a natural, organic material, and it has
many uses as a building material, including
framing, flooring, fixtures and features. Morerecently it has become the primary structuralcomponent in multi-level construction using
engineered timber, such as cross-laminatedtimber (CLT), glued laminated timber (glulam)and laminated veneer lumber (LVL).

Biomorphism describes the modelling ofdesign elements on naturally occurring
patterns or shapes reminiscent of natureand living organisms. Taken to its extreme
it attempts to employ naturally occurring
shapes onto functional devices. The
development of modern engineered timber
technologies has allowed the arrangementof timber into ever more complex forms.
Supporting structures can now resemble
the arrangement of trees and their branches,
as exhibited in the Village Centre, National
Arboretum in Canberra41,42 and the Credit
Valley Hospital with its tree filled atrium toinspire patients. The idea for the grove oftimber trees flourishing in the atrium of Credit
Valley Hospital’s Carlo Fidani Peel Regional
Cancer Centre, in Mississauga, Ontario,
grew out of visits by architect Tye Farrow
to 30 cancer centres in North America andEurope, where patients told him they wanted
fewer hotel-like amenities and “more reasons
to feel hopeful.”43

When used well wood creates buildings thatcombine many of the key elements of natureconnected design, including natural light, airflow and views of green spaces.
Wood can also be used to reflect thepatterns and shapes seen in nature, also
known as biomorphism37, and as a natural
material on display in the building. Bothnature connected elements are discussed
in the following sections and how they arelinked through use or research to positive
health and wellbeing.

The design for Credit Valley
hospital was inspired by cancer
patients saying they wanted
fewer hotel-like amenities and“more reasons to feel hopeful”.

Figure 9. Engineered timber has become a
primary structural component.
WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

10

Figure 10. Credit Valley Hospital’s Indoor Forest.

“We decided to create an environmentthat appeared to be alive and growing,”says Farrow, a senior partner at Farrow
Partnership Architects. He made a few
sketches and models of the 11,500-squarefoot space before creating a triangular floor
plan centered on four sprawling columns
comprising Douglas fir glulam members.
Biomorphic timber forms now appear in otherpublic situations, for example the Metropol
Parasol in Seville. The structure consists ofsix parasols in the form of giant mushrooms,
whose design is inspired by the vaults of theCathedral of Seville and the Ficus trees in the
nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. Similarly,
the spectacular Saffire Resort at Freycinet,
Tasmania evokes a connection to the sea
through references to waves, sea creatures,
sand dunes and a flowing, organic form.

Figure 11.
Biomorphic timberforms in the Metropol
Parasol in Seville.

Figure 12. Saffire
Resort evokes aconnection to the sea
through a flowing,organic form.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

11

HealthBenefits of
Wood
Wood – A Raft ofBenefits
Wood provides a material connection withnature; it is a natural material that is often
used with minimal processing to provide
both functional uses and aesthetic beauty.
Used well the nature connection provided
by wood can extend into boosting our healthand wellbeing.
Research on the health impact of natural
materials, including wood, is a growing but
still a limited area of study. The research
typically examines the physiological response
to variable quantities of materials such as
wood compared with other materials and theimpact upon various parameters associatedwith health, such as blood pressure or
cognitive performance.

Figure 13. Wood provides amaterial connection with nature.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

12

The term neuro-architecture has also beencoined to define the process of informing
design by correlating specific measures of thebuilt environment with quantified measuresof the brain’s and body’s responses (neural,
physiological and psychological responses),
as well as sociological, behavioural andeconomic outcomes44.
The objective of much of the researchis to explore how wood can be used toenhance the indoor environment using its
characteristics, be they visual, physical oreven tactile. We experience wood acrossthe range of our senses and for many of us
touching wood is not just for luck but also a
response to the texture and warmth of thematerial45.
Two significant reviews of the role of woodon health have been performed. Nousiainen
201346 examined the role of wood in creatinga restorative environment, and Augustin andFell 201547 have provided a more recent
review on this topic.

wooden classrooms having decreased
heart rates and decreased perception ofstress from interactions with teachers. In
contrast, students taught in the control
classroom had increased heart rates andhad greater stress responses50.

Benefits on the Body
A number of studies have examined theimpact of wood upon our body. The resultsof these studies indicate that the presence ofwood has an impact on our physiology.
•••

A Japanese study compared the initialphysiological response of 14 people
sitting in rooms with either wooden or
steel wall panelling. The pulse and heart
rate of each subject was measured every
second for 20 seconds whilst facing
the panelled wall covered by a curtain,
followed by 90 seconds with the curtain
removed and the wooden or steel panel
visible. The study found that exposure towooden panels significantly decreased
the blood pressure of subjects, whilst
exposure to steel panels significantly
increased it48.
An Austrian study examined the heart
rates of 30 people who slept in a Stone
Pine bed for 3 weeks and compared it totheir heart rates when sleeping in a wood
imitation bed for 3 weeks. Sleeping ina stone pine bed reduced heart rates
by 3,500 beats per day compared towhen subjects were sleeping in a wood
imitation bed49.
A year-long study examined 36 highschool students aged 13-15 years
who were taught in either a classroom
furbished with floors, ceilings, cupboards
and wall panels made of solid wood, ora classroom equipped with a linoleum
floor, plasterboard walls and chipboard
cupboards.
The
results
showedsignificant differences between the twogroups, with students taught in the

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

•

•

•

Studies continue on examining the impact
of wood to reduce stress in schools. A
movement called ‘Schule Ohne Stress’,or ‘Schools Without Stress’, is examining
the impact of wood on the health ofpupils.
A 2008 Japanese study51 examined
the benefit of adding wood panels andJapanese paper to the walls of a hospital
isolation room. The results demonstrated
a reduced stress level (measured bycortisol levels) experienced by people inthe space compared to people who spenttime in the room when it had its original
concrete walls. The authors suggested
the redecoration improved the thermal
comfort of the room contributing tomaintaining a preferable core temperature.
A 201052 study of responses of 119
students in wood and non-wood offices
before, during and after assignment
to a stressful task. Test results showedthat skin measurements indicated lower
stress from subjects in the wood officecompared to the non-wood office.
The author concluded that the study
provided evidence that wood produces
stress-reducing effects similar to theeffect of exposure to nature in the field ofenvironmental psychology, and that thisstress reduction property had a role asa part of the evidence-based and natureconnected designs of hospitals, offices,
schools, and other built environments.
13•

A 2005 study48 looked at the psychologicaland physiological responses of viewing
either a wooden or a white steel wall. Bloodpressure dropped in those subjects with apreference for wood, whereas no change
was observed in those that disliked thepanels. Viewing the steel panels was
said to provide a closed impression anda sense of depression, resulting in a risein blood pressure in those subjects thatdisliked white steel. This result indicatesthat differing materials can have variable
responses dependent on an individual’s
preferences. It is important to note that
not all individuals will show the same
response and have the same preferences.

These studies examining the effects ofwooden rooms and furnishings clearly

demonstrate that the presence of wood canhave positive physiological effects, lowering
blood pressure and heart rate, providing
improved thermal comfort and reduced
stress responses when compared to othermaterial types.

Skin measurements indicatedlower stress from subjects inthe wood office compared to the
non-wood office.

Figure 14. A home incorporating wooden
structures and furnishings.

Thesephysiologicalresponses
arespecifically controlled by the sympathetic
nervous system (SNS). SNS activation
occurs when the body prepares itself forstress, increasing blood pressure and heartrate, whilst inhibiting digestion, recovery andthe immune system in order to deal with any
immediate threats it perceives. Long term
exposure to environments that induce stresscan trigger serious health consequences,including obesity, type 2 diabetes and related
cardiometabolic complications53
Studies also suggest that exposure to stressand stress hormones during childhood
and adolescence increases the sensitivityof individuals to the onset of stress-related
mental disorders later in life54, the timing ofpuberty and body-composition55. Decreasing
the stress of school (one of the most stressful
activities in childhood56) by incorporating
natural wood into the classroom cantherefore have significant and long lasting
positive effects.

Long-term exposure toenvironments that induce stresscan trigger serious healthconsequences.

Figure 15. School
students have lower
heart rates anddecreased perceptionof stress.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

14

Benefits on the Brainof 24 to indicate their first impressions ofeach organisation. The presence of wood
products within a corporate environment
considerably influenced first impressions,with study subjects significantly more
likely to want to work for organisations thatfeatured wooden furnishings. Offices withwooden interiors also conveyed feelingsof innovation, energy and comfort, whilst
offices without wood conveyed feelingsof being impersonal and uncomfortable63.

In addition to the research highlighted above,
a number of studies have also examined
the impact of wood upon our brain. Again,
the results of these studies indicate that thepresence of wood has a positive impact on
our physiology.
•

Figure 16. The useof wooden products
increases social
interactions among
elderly people.

••

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

15

The behaviours and health status of 44
elderly Japanese residents using wooden
tables, chairs and tableware at a carehome was examined and compared tothose using plastic products. The results
indicated that the use of wooden products
increased the number of interactions
between individuals (i.e. more talkative andmore willing to engage with one another),
improved emotional state and expanded
self-expression in a positive way57.
A Canadian study has demonstrated thatthe colours and texture of wood havebeen shown to elicit feelings of ‘warmth’,‘comfort’ and ‘relaxation’ in people58,
all emotions that have been shown to
reduce stress, anxiety and recovery
times in hospital by studies examining
the influences of music 59,60, plants61 andtherapeutic massage62
A study in New Zealand presented
69 adults with images of 10 modern
corporateinteriors,chosenfromrecently published books showcasing
contemporary design. Five of the interiors
featured wood significantly, whilst theother five featured no wood at all.
Participants were asked to ‘identify theorganisation you would most like to work
for and least like to work for’, followed
by selecting three adjectives from a list•

In a study published in 200764 participants’brain activity, blood pressure and pulse
rate was monitored whilst being in a roomwith either 0 per cent, 45 per cent, or 90
per cent of surfaces covered with wood.
All rooms showed some effect, with theblood pressure being lowest in the 90 per
cent wood. The room with 45 per centof surfaces covered with wood tended
to have the highest scores in subjective
comfort and restful scores. The authors
concluded that this might reflect anappropriate and moderate wood quantitywith which many people felt comfortable.

The positive psychological outcomes ofpeople interacting with wooden products
could have significant economic impacts.
This is because studies have shown thatsocial interactions that lead to opportunities
for self-expression in old people reduces therisk of dementia, a disease that currently
costs Australia over AUD$5 billion every year
and effects 44 million people worldwide65.
Shortening hospital stays through reduced
recovery times will also reduce costs tothe medical system, whilst improved first
impressions of organisations will attract
business to the Australian market.

Benefits on the Air
Wood products within a room have beenshown to improve indoor air quality bymoderating humidity. This effect occurs due
to wood absorbing and releasing moisturein order to maintain equilibrium with thesurrounding air, known as the equilibrium
moisture content. Wood therefore absorbs
moisture from the air in humid conditions andreleases moisture in dry conditions66,67.
The ability of wood to moderate humidity isa particularly important effect in workplaces.
This is because productivity has been
demonstrated to be reduced by an averageof 12 per cent in offices where staff are
dissatisfied with the quality of the air68. In
addition, research in 200269 showed that
hygroscopic wood-based materials reduced
peak indoor air humidity within bedrooms
at night, providing an increased level ofsatisfaction to their occupants.

Figure 17. Woodproducts can improveindoor air quality inoffices by moderating
humidity.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

16

Visual Appeal,
Natural Look
Studies have identified that the presenceof wood indoors is associated with anenhanced feeling of wellbeing. In agedcare homes plants and natural materials(including wood) were associated with asubjective improvement in wellbeing70.
Hospital rooms with wooden furniture wereidentified as more appealing and rated higher
by their staff71. A review of photos of assisted
living facilities showed that both patientsand their families preferred more naturalelements, including wood, on the outside of
the buildings72. In a further study in which
employees at a Norwegian hospital wereasked to rate patients’ rooms with different
degrees of wood, the results indicated thatpatient rooms with an intermediate level ofwood were the most preferred73.
Australians also appear to be innately drawn
towards wood. As previously discussed,
Australians identified wood use in officedesign contributed to greater levels of
productivity38. When Planet Ark presented
surveyed participants with images of tworooms, one furnished with a wooden chair,desk, blinds and other items made fromwood, while the other showed the same
items made from plastic (Figure 17), twoout of every three people said they preferred
the wooden room. This result occurred
despite one in two people saying they
were completely unaware that wood had
associated health benefits. The images weretaken from a study by David Fell (2010),
which showed Canadians have similar innate
attitudes towards wood52.

Figure 18. Interior wood
being used to frame
views of nature.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

17

Figure 19. Images used in thePlanet Ark survey of wooden andplastic furnished rooms. Sourced
from David Fell (2010)52

Don’t know

Disagree

22

Agree

96

Is visually appealing
22
96
Has a natural look and feel
7 4
Is versatile

89

8

87

6

Material

Is recyclable
97

Creates a
Creates atnatural look warm &cosy envi& feelronment

84

Is renewable
7

11

Perception

83

Visually
appealing

Feels niceto touch

Environmentallyfriendly

Relatively
cheap

Wood

93

92

88

87

68

31

Brick

61

62

58

30

47

30

Concrete

25

23

24

20

27

35

Steel

20

16

36

36

28

20

Aluminium

17

15

33

34

30

36

39
7
54
Has associated health benefits, e.g. stress reduction

Plastic

14

18

24

36

14

71

Table 1. Results of the Planet Ark survey onwhether Australians ‘agree’, ‘disagree’ or ‘don’t
know’ when asked questions about wood.

Table 2. Results of a Planet Ark survey
asking how participants perceive different
material types

Table 1 above highlights the positive associations
that wood induces in people, where an
overwhelming 96 per cent of Australians agreed
that wood is ‘visually appealing’ and ‘has anatural look and feel’. Eight out of ten people
also thought that wood is versatile, recyclable,
renewable and long lasting.

The positive views of wood continue evenwhen compared to other material types(Table 2). Wood was viewed as the material
that creates a natural look and feel, warmand cosy environments, is visually appealing
and is nice to touch by nine out of ten people,
and as being the most environmentallyfriendly by seven out of ten people. By
comparison the second most popularmaterial, brick, received an average of 34 percent less positive feedback. Plastic was seenas the cheapest material but it also scoredlowest in four out of five categories related

Is durable and long lasting
30

6

64

Creates less carbon emmissions during production thansteel & concrete
33
Stores carbon

661

Australians, however, appear to be lessaware of the environmental benefits of wood,with only six out of ten survey participants
understanding that wood stores carbon
and creates less carbon emissions during
production than steel and concrete.
WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

18

Figure 20. We respond instinctively to the
feelings of warmth and comfort and thenatural look and feel of wood.

to creating pleasant surroundings and being
environmentally friendly.
These survey results provide support to theempirical evidence discussed above. Even
though many people don’t understand thehealth and wellbeing benefits of wood they
instinctively react to the feelings of warmthand comfort it creates and its natural lookand feel. An increasing body of research is
beginning to show that being surrounded bywood at home, work or school has positiveeffects on the body, the brain and theenvironment.

Other similar survey studies have been
performed that have shown preferences
and potential positive health associations
with the use of wood. A 1988 Japanesestudy74 investigated the messages conveyed
by images of wood used in residential
environments. Spaces were seen as warm
(i.e. pleasantly relaxed) places to be as the
proportion of wooden surfaces increased
up to a level of 43 per cent wood, and fell
subsequently as levels rose further.

Rating Nature
Connected Design
The benefits of good building design on ourhealth, happiness and productivity is firmly
established.
Indoor environment quality
not only benefits the occupants but alsoenhances the value of the property75. This is
now being reflected in building standards andrating organisations, both here in Australia
and internationally.

Figure 21. The WWF Australia
headquarters, situated in a
century-old former wool store
in inner Sydney, achieved a
5 Star Green Star Interiors
rating from the GBCA.

Green Star is a program provided by theGreen Building Council of Australia76 (GBCA)
that evaluates the sustainability qualities of abuilding design, construction and operationof both the building and fitout. The GBCA
has been among many in the building anddesign community that advocate for officespaces that incorporate natural elements toimprove worker wellbeing. A recent report
has highlighted that many Australian offices
still fall short in providing a suitable work
environment.39
The WELL Building Standard™77 provides
the opportunity to design and build witha human-centred approach, using anevidence-based system for measuring,certifying and monitoring the performanceof building features that impact health andwellbeing.
The International organisation the Living
Future Institute78 has developed programmes
including the living building challenge that
focuses on healthy workplaces and thenature connected design principles todevelop beautiful buildings.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

19

Cashing in on Nature
Connected Design
Studies have shown that indoor environment
quality is critical to the happiness of a building’s
occupants. This has been shown to translate intohigher rental return and selling price75.
Other studies, including those by Planet Ark30,
have shown that nature provides an economic
value to our places of work and residences. Natureconnected design may be viewed as a luxury forproperty owners and employers, however, in reality
the benefits to be gleaned from improvements inhealth, reduced stress and more comfortableconditions are considerable79.
There are multiple ways by which workers canbe adversely impacted by a poor environment,
resulting in increased stress, loss of focus,
negative mood, lower productivity, poor healthand absenteeism. Studies have highlighted thehigh cost to Australian business from a loss in
productivity from the impact of stress on thehealth of workers38-40. The benefit provided bynature connected design, of which the inclusionof wood is one element, is a real opportunity to
improve worker health.

Figure 22. The benefits from
improvements in health, reduced
stress and more comfortableconditions are considerable.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

20

The positive health outcomes of people interactingwith wooden products could therefore haveimportant economic benefits. For example,
social interactions that lead to opportunities for
self-expression in old people reduces the risk ofdementia, a disease that currently costs Australia
over AUD$5 billion every year and effects 44 million
people worldwide65. Shortening hospital stays
through reduced recovery times will also reduce
costs to the medical system, whilst improved first
impressions of organisations will attract businessto the Australian market.

Be Certain it’sCertifiedFigure 24. Products displaying
tags to indicate they are madefrom FSC certified timber.

Certification ensures that the wood comesfrom legally harvested and well-managed
forests and plantations. Certified forests aremanaged with environmental, social andeconomic factors as a priority, and ensurethat when a tree is harvested another one
is planted in its place. Without certification
is can be difficult or impossible to knowwhether wood was taken illegally or fromhigh conservation value forests80.
The two major global forest certification bodies
are the Programme for the Endorsement ofForest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC). Both the PEFC
and FSC are internationally recognised
forest certification networks that provide
for the mutual recognition of regional andnational standards that meet their criteria forsustainable forest management.
In Australia, forest managers and owners
have the option of certifying their forests
undereithertheAustralian
ForestCertification Scheme (AFCS), which isrecognised under the PEFC, or the FSC.
The AFCS uses the Australian Forestry
Standard (AFS) as the relevant standard for
certifying forest management. FSC currently
uses two interim, regionally adapted forest
management standards in Australia, but iscurrently working towards the developmentof a national FSC standard for Australia. The
AFCS is administered by AFS Ltd, whereas
FSC certification in Australia is administeredby FSC Australia.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

Figure 23. FSC, AFS and PEFC logos displayedon products made from timber and paper
products derived from certified forests.

Wood and wood-based products sourced
from certified forests can also be tracked(via labelling) through the supply chain using
chain-of-custodycertification
providedby both forest certification schemes. This
provides consumers with an assurance
that the wood product they are purchasing
comes from a sustainably managed andcertified forest.
Like the Australian Government, Planet
Ark supports all credible internationallyrecognised forest certification schemesthat provide for legal and sustainable forest
management and believes that the choice offorest certification scheme(s) is a decision forforest owners/managers.

21

The presence of sprinklers had a greater impact on reducing injuries
than the combustibility of the building material.

What About
Fire Safety?
From 1 May 2016 Australia saw a change to the
National Construction Code (NCC) that provides
a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution for the use oftimber building systems in Class 2 (apartments),
Class 3 (e.g. hotels) and Class 5 (office) buildings
up to 25 metres in effective height (8 storeys).
New timber buildings constructed under thischange are required to use fire-protective grade
plasterboard and have automatic fire sprinkler
systems installed. Conventional buildings of thesame height are not required to have sprinklers,potentially making them less safe.
A common concern raised in regards to theuse of wood as a building material is whether
or not there is an increased risk of fire.
Engineers and fire researchers have asignificant body of knowledge of how timber
constructions perform in fire. The structural
stability of timber in the event of fire is wellunderstood and, importantly, it is predictable,
allowing timber constructions to be createdthat meet the same fire safety codes as steel
and concrete buildings81,82.
Heavy timber constructions have an inherent
level of fire resistance. This resistanceincreases with the thickness of the wooden
elements because when timber is exposed tofire the outer layer can ignite but turns to char.
Charring creates a protective layer that acts
as insulation and delays the onset of heating
for the cold layer below. With continued
exposure to fire the char layer grows but as
the burning rate is predictable, the wooden
elements can be designed to provide greater
time for escape or intervention81.
WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGNAn additional benefit to heavy timber is theease of repair after a fire. The charred sections
can visually be assessed and evaluated forresidual capacity, and the damaged timber
can then be cut away and replaced81. This is
in contrast to steel, which can buckle under
the heat generated in a building fire.

A study that examined the rate of injury fromhotel, motel and aged care home fires in
America and Canada from 1980 to 199885
found that the presence of sprinklers had agreater impact than the combustibility of thebuilding material (Figure 25)85. Importantly,
sprinkler systems have been shown to be theone of the primary factors in limiting fatalities
and fire damage in structures of all types84,86.
22

42.6

Non
combustable,
sprinklers

Combustable,
sprinklers

71.5

69.9

Non
combustable,
no sprinklers

Combustable,
no sprinklers

Figure 26. Injury rates (per 1,000 fires) bysprinkler protection status and building
material combustibility84.

In light timber frame constructions the walls
and floors are typically encased in noncombustible, fire-protective grade plasterboard
to provide protection from fire. This can provide
the same level of fire resistance as a completely
non-combustible material83.
Just because steel is a non-combustible
material does not mean it is unaffectedby fire. The thermal conductivity of steel issignificantly greater than wood (200-1000
times higher). This creates a thermal bridging
effect, allowing heat from a fire in one part ofa building to spread rapidly to other parts if
no protection is provided. Fire can also raise
the temperature of steel to compromise its
strength, with a reduction in its load carrying
capacity by one third when heated above
540°C, causing beams to buckle and floors
to collapse84.

51.1

Figure 25. Deformed steel beams after a fire.

Figure 27. Sprinkler systems are one of the
primary factors in limiting fatalities and firedamage in structures of all types.

Design to Last
Figure 29. The Urnes
Stave Church in Norway
dates back to 1130.

A concern sometimes raised about the useof timber is that it can be attacked by naturalprocesses and organisms in ways that canadversely impact its durability. We know thatwood and wooden buildings can last a very
long time:•

The Pagoda of Fogong Temple (China)
is a nine-story, 221-foot-tall pagoda
located in the Shanxi province of northern
China. Constructed in 1056, it is theworld’s oldest existing multistorey timberbuilding.

•

Urnes Stave Church (Norway) was built
around 1130 and is believed to be theoldest of its kind. It provides a link between
Christian architecture and the architecture
and art forms of the Viking Age.

Wood can be attacked by a range oforganisms including fungi, termites, beetles
and a range of marine creatures as well as
being subject to weathering and naturalprocesses.
A considered approach is the use of the
fit-for-purpose timber species and thecorrect construction techniques, which
can help avoid unnecessary problems. For
example, fungi will attack wood for foodbut require moisture, oxygen and a suitabletemperature. Cutting out these essentials
will help prevent decay along with choosing
the most appropriate species.
A number of species of termite are known toattack wood, for some this is via the tunnels
that they build to create safe conditions fortravel and transport of their food. Preventionof bridging or access points and chemical

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

Figure 28. The Pagoda of Fogong Temple in
China dates back to 1056.

treatment can prevent the termites gaining
pathways to their food.
Wood is a durable material for both homes
and commercial buildings. When properly
maintained it can last as long as otherbuilding materials. Technical design guides87
and online training88,89 are available withmore details on how to design for durability
with timber.
23

Showcasing
Wood
An increasing number of architects who designbuildings for healing, learning and relaxation
are incorporating significant amounts ofwood into their structures to capitalise on its
health and wellbeing benefits. Below are six
Australian Exemplar Projects that showcase
the use of wood in different applications,
including the design ideas of those involved.

Dandenong Mental
Health Centre
The Dandenong Mental Health Centre,
designed by Bates Smart and the Irwin
Allsop Group, is the largest mental healthfacility in Victoria. Natural timber is used
extensively in the walls and ceilings
throughout the building, both inside and out,
to create a residential and suburban feeling.
This is in direct contrast to many mental
health facilities that have an unnatural andinstitutional feel. The use of courtyards,
both large and small, with wooden panels
creates sized spaces that also allow lightand cross ventilation into the building.

Figure 30. Natural timber is used
extensively throughout the building,both inside and out, to create aresidential and suburban feeling.

The building won the 2014 Australian
Timber Design Awards due to the
WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

24

combination of modern timber technology,
traditional timber use and its specific designfor the health benefits of wood. The judges
specifically stated that; “The attention todetail is exceptional, clearly demonstrating an
understanding of timber design” and that “Thedesign team demonstrated an understandingof the health benefits of wood.”
Bates Smart and the Irwin Allsop Group said
that they specifically chose wood, both new
and recycled, to provide warmth, texture,patterning, tactility and a non-institutional
feel to the facility. In addition they stated thatwood is durable, low maintenance and has
already begun to age gracefully90.

Marist College
Bendigo Montagne
CentreThe 2016 Australian Timber Design
Sustainability Category was awarded toMatt Dwyer and Garry Thompson from Y2
Architecture and Paul Waddell from Three
Acres Landscape Architecture for the Marist
College Bendigo Montagne Centre. This is awonderful example of timber used in a natureconnected design creating the connection
between the school and the environment.
This building combines the use of timber
in a design that connects the internal andexternal environments. Ironbark and Spotted
Gum recycled telephone poles are used tosupport the exposed primary and secondary
glulam timber trusses. Silvertop ash cladding
is used around the perimeter of the building
as a durable, sustainable and thermallyefficient material. Glulam and LVL trusses
used through the centre relate back to theMarist traditions of conventional construction
techniques and closeness with natural
materials.
Marist College is linked to water byimplementing a system of wetlands andbio-filtration that weaves through the site
and is used for on-site treatment of waterand storage/use of rainwater. The wetlands
provide an ecosystem that breathes life into
the school site with native reeds and aquaticplants forming a lush habitat for the local
fauna. The eucalypt woodlands found aroundthe site consists of native tree species suchas ironbark, yellow box and river red gum.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

The school embraces the Reggio Emilia91
approach to education in which theenvironment is seen as the third teacher.
This applies equally to the inside and outsideenvironments by placing value on aesthetics,
organisation, thoughtfulness, provocation,communication and interaction. Care andattention paid to organising space outdoors
stimulates children’s imagination, creativity,
exploration, discovery, engagement andsense of wonder.
According to Darren McGregor, Principal
at Marist College, Bendigo; “The building
and the atmosphere that has been createdhas had a noticeably calming effect on thestudents.”

Figure 31. The Marist
College Bendigo
Montagne Centre
combines the use oftimber in a design thatconnects the internal andexternal environments.

25

Melbourne Schoolof Design
2015 Australian Timber Design Award waspresented to John Wardle Architects and NADAAA
for the Melbourne School of Design, an inspiring
example of sound, passive green design practices.
The design aspires to both educate the building
users and to provide a catalyst for learning. The
use of timber in the building incorporates a variety
of applications ranging from exposed structuralcomponents down to smaller scaled and highly
detailed elements.

Figure 32. The design ofMelbourne School of Design
aspires to both educate theusers and also to provide a
catalyst for learning.

The design principles adopted for building reflects
the local climate by utilising diurnal variation, naturalventilation, thermal mass, daylight, and optimal sun
shading to create a learning environment attuned toits climatic context. The transparency of the building
supports the vision of a living/learning space. Thisis expressed in the use of mesh balustrades tothe atrium edges, the open ground floor exhibition
gallery, and the opening up of the buildings functions
at the building perimeter.
The building is a showcase of what can be achieved
with structural timber. Engineered timber beams
and coffers span its 20-metre wide atrium, acting
as sunshades, structural restraints, and structural
support for the atrium roof glazing. The timber
framed and lined hanging studio is suspended fromtwo of the overhead engineered timber beams,
whilst the custom detailed perforations and foldsof the hanging studio envelope works to meet the
acoustic tuning of the atrium space.
The use of sustainably sourced renewable timber
contributes to the reduction in the buildings
embodied energy and was an important contributor
for the building achieving a 6 Star Green Star rating.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

26

The Village
Centre, National
Arboretum,
Canberra
Winner of the 2013 Central Region Timber
Design Award and designed by Peter Tonkinof Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects, theVillage Centre nestles into the landscapejust below the site’s ridgeline to complement
the surrounding topography. The building
creates a strong sense of indoor-outdoor
connection, contrasting a high arching roof
and huge windows with low stone-clad walls.
Internally, the unique timber structure
combines a low environmental impact
with dramatic forest-like forms, designed
in a series of geometrical arcs, inspired by
the leaves and trees in the surrounding
forests. The timber frame uses laminatedTasmanian oak and contains over 3,000
unique structural members, cut to shapefrom computer models, test fitted in factories
in Tasmania and then erected on site.
All ten massive curved beams in the ceilingare of different lengths, and 73 solid timber
struts form the key structural elements of thedome. The longest beam is 56 metres longand 12 metres high.
The biomorphic forms within the centre, theuse of stone and the interconnectedness ofnatural elements have created an excellent
example of nature connected design.
Figure 33. The biomorphic forms within the
Village Centre, National Arboretum Canberra
provide an excellent example of natureconnected design.
WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

27

Tempe House,
Tempe, NSW
Tempe House was intentionally designed
to be small to minimise its environmental
impact and construction budget. The
designer was able to reduce the impact ofthe development by careful retention andrestoration of the existing dwelling, including
the original kitchen and bathroom locations,and the rationalisation of the floor plan tocreate a single line of circulation and a small,efficient staircase. Importantly, the orientationof the design maximised the northern andwestern openings to capture winter sunlightand summer breezes.
A number of other design features helped toensure that the design had the least possible
impact on the environment, including the useof double-glazing and increased insulation,
including floor insulation. The house also has
a 2000 litre rainwater storage tank which
was located internally so that its thermal
mass could be used to regulate the internal
temperature of the home, and to store theheat from penetrating winter sunlight.
The majority of the project was hand craftedon site, which ensured a high level ofcontrol of on-site waste and an opportunity
for maximum reuse and recycling. Timberelements were either screw, bolt or threadedrod fixed to enable simple disassembly andpotential reuse at the end of life.

Figure 34. Careful
use of exposed
timber elements
and outdoor views
has created acalming, tranquil
environment
and an exquisite
example of natureconnected design.

Careful use of exposed timber elements andoutdoor views has created a calming, tranquil
environment and an exquisite example ofnature connected design.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

28

The Library at
the Dock, Victoria
Harbour, Melbourne
The library at the dock was the winner of the
Sustainability Category in the 2014 Australian
Timber Design Awards. The project wasdelivered through a unique tri-partnership
between the City of Melbourne, Lendleaseand the state government through Places
Victoria. It was designed by Clare Design,with Hayball engaged as architect of record.
The library set new environmental benchmarks
as Australia’s most sustainable community
building, constructed primarily from crosslaminated timber (CLT) and recycled hardwood.
The unique contrast of reclaimed old timberwith the latest innovation of CLT construction
celebrates history while embracing 21st
century technology. Library at The Dock wasAustralia’s first public building made from CLT.
The three-storey library is situated on thewaterfront of Victoria Harbour in Melbourne’s

Figure 35. The Library at theDock’s passive design promotes
natural ventilation, daylight andfresh indoor air quality, resulting
in reduced energy consumption
and an improved indoor
environment.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

29

Docklands. As well as a traditional librarycollection, the library offers an interactive
learning environment, an impressive digitalcollection, and multi-purpose community
spaces and a performance venue that holds
120 people.
The library was built by Lendlease using
1,000 cubic metres of European Spruce CLT.
The façade consists of recycled Ironbark
and Tallowwood timber to complement thepromenade decking. The decking is madefrom reclaimed timber from the Victoria
Harbour south wharf, giving new life to the
local area’s historical past.
Construction right on the waterfront, justeight metres from the edge, was only possible
because CLT is 20 per cent of the weight oftraditional structures, significantly reducing
the requirement for new substructure. The
75-year-old wharf has been preserved andserves as the building’s substructure.
The use of CLT for the library’s structure
significantly reduced the building’s carbon
footprint. In addition, the building’s passive
design promotes natural ventilation, daylightand fresh indoor air quality, resulting in
reduced energy consumption and an
improved indoor environment.
The building has achieved a Six Star GreenStar rating under the public buildings rating
tool from the Green Building Council ofAustralia.

Conclusion
Wood has entered a new era where, with good
design and modern engineering techniques, it canbe used to create extraordinary structures. Throughthe incorporation of nature connected design,these designs can help to create positive andhealthy environments. Timber can not only provide
the structure for a building, but can also be used
to reflect nature’s shapes and aesthetics. Indeed,just through the presence of wood we can deliver
healthier environments.

Figure 36. Responsibly
sourced (and certified)timber has clear health andhappiness benefits.

The use of wood in the interior of a building has
clear physiological and psychological benefits thatmimic the effect of spending time outside in nature.
The feelings of natural warmth and comfort thatwood elicits in people has the effect of lowering
blood pressure and heart rates, reducing stress andanxiety, increasing positive social interactions andimproving corporate image.
These benefits are particularly important forenvironments where it is difficult to incorporate
nature indoors, such as hospitals, where strict healthand safety guidelines may prevent the presence ofplants, and office environments where views fromthe window are of roads and neighbouring concretebuildings.
Responsibly sourced (and certified) timber has clear
health and happiness benefits, as well as being aweapon in the struggle against climate change byboth storing carbon and reducing carbon emissions.
Wood is one of the oldest and most versatilebuilding materials used by humanity, but now morethan ever it has a large part to play in the design andconstruction of healthy buildings for us to live, work,
learn and recover in.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

30

Planet Ark
Nature Related
Research

Planet Ark has undertaken and commissioned a number of reports focusing
on the health and wellbeing benefits of contact with nature for people fromacross the entire community. On the whole this research focused on exposure
to natural elements like plants, gardens, wilderness, nature views and so on.
The addition of this new report, focusing as it does on the benefits of wood in
the built environment continues to build on our understanding of the humanconnection to nature. Our previous reports include:

Trees
ADDINGA PRESCRIPTIONF O R H E A LT H , H A P P I N E S S
AND FULFILMENT

Needing Trees:

The Nature of Happiness

A research report commissioned by Planet Ark and sponsored by Toyota Australia.

2012 - Planting Trees: Just
What The Doctor Ordered,
which explored the intellectual,
psychological, physical and mental
health benefits of contact withnature for children.

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

2013 - Missing Trees: The
Inside Story of an Outdoor
Nation, which focused on outdoor
recreation and contact with nature,among adults as well as children.
Key areas included: the backyard
and its decline in Australia;
whether the great outdoors is still akey part of how we view ourselves
as Australians; and whether
there is a link between backyards
and the amount of time people
spend doing outdoor recreational
activities.

31

2014 - Valuing Trees: Whatis nature worth? which took abroader focus and looked at theeconomic, environmental, healthand social benefits of naturein the workplace, at home, inneighbourhoods and in schools.
The report examined how
much Australians value natureand outlined the results of an
independent survey that exploredthe financial figures people arewilling to allocate to these benefits.

2015 - Needing Trees - The
Nature of Happiness whichinvestigated how contact withnature affects people’s life-longhappiness and the physiologicalimpacts it has on the brain. It
found that spending time in nature
influences our subjective wellbeing,
which has long-term health andfinancial consequences.

A research report commissioned by Planet Ark and sponsored by Toyota Australia.

2016 - Adding Trees - A
Prescription for Health,Happiness and Fulfilment,
which examined how time innature enhances and grows the
key areas in life that Australians
consider the most important
for a fulfilling life – health,happiness, learning, relaxation andrelationships.

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Index of Photographs
FigureProject

Designer

Photographer

Cover page

Melbourne School of Design – the University of Melbourne

John Wardle Architects and NADAAA in collaboration

Peter Bennetts

Figure 1

Bold Park Aquatic Centre, City Beach, WA

Donovan Payne Architects & Andrew Volkmann & Kim Donovan

Emma Van Dordrecht – F22 Photography

Figure 2

Swadling House, Matraville, NSW

Figure 3

John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Senior Learning Centre, WA

Brooking Design Architects

Heather Robbins

Figure 4

Library at the Dock, Victoria Harbour, Melbourne

Lendlease with Clare Design and Hayball

Dianna Snape and Emma Cross

Figure 5

Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre, Victoria

Y2 Architecture and Three Acres Landscape ArchitectureBill Conroy, Press 1 Photography

Figure 6

CLT House, Maianbar, NSW

Ardea Oosthuizen

Josh Hill Photography

Figure 7

Breathing wall at the Lendlease Head Office, International Towers Sydney, Barangaroo, Sydney

Lendlease

Image courtesy of Lendlease

Figure 8

Dandenong Mental Health Facility, Dandenong

Bates Smart (in collaboration with Irwin Alsop group)

John Gollings, Peter Bennetts

Figure 9

Woodleigh School Senior Homestead, Langwarrin South, Victoria

Law Architects

Drew Echberg

Figure 10

Credit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada

Farrow Partners

Courtesy of Farrow Partners

Figure 11

Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain

J. Meyer. H Architects

Courtesy of J. Meyer. H Architects

Figure 12

Saffire Resort, Freycinet, Tasmania

Circa Morris-Nunn Architects

George Apostolidis

Figure 13

Woodleigh School Senior Homestead, Langwarrin South, Victoria

Law Architects

Drew Echberg

Figure 14

Tempe House, Sydney, NSW

Pederson Architecture

Thilo Pulch

Figure 15

John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Kindergarten, WA

Brooking Design Architects

Heather Robbins

Figure 17

Ansarada Office, Sydney

Those Architects and End of Work

Brett Boardman Photography

Figure 18

Tempe House, Sydney, NSW

Pederson Architecture

Thilo Pulch

Figure 20

Woodleigh School Senior Homestead, Langwarrin South, Victoria

Law Architects

Drew Echberg

Ian Wingrove and Associates

Figure 21

WWF Australia Headquarters, Sydney

DesignEco

Figure 22

Library at the Dock, Victoria Harbour, Melbourne

Lendlease with Clare Design and Hayball

Dianna Snape and Emma Cross

Figure 30

Dandenong Mental Health Facility, Dandenong

Bates Smart (in collaboration with Irwin Alsop group)

John Gollings, Peter Bennetts

Figure 31

Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre

Y2 Architecture and Three Acres Landscape ArchitectureBill Conroy, Press 1 Photography

Figure 32

Melbourne School of Design – the University of Melbourne

John Wardle Architects and NADAAA in collaboration

Peter Bennetts

Figure 33

The Village Centre, National Arboretum, Canberra

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects

Brett Boardman Photography

Figure 34

Tempe House, Sydney, NSW

Pederson Architecture

Thilo Pulch

Figure 35

Library at the Dock, Victoria Harbour, Melbourne

Lendlease with Clare Design and Hayball

Dianna Snape and Emma Cross

Figure 36

John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Senior Learning Centre, WA

Brooking Design Architects

Heather Robbins

WOOD – NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

33