Entrance to the Critical Care tower of Surrey Memorial Hospital. Large "Emergency" letters stand above the main entrance, with curved wood columns featured on the extension of the building next to the entrance.

Wood as a restorative material in healthcare environments

Photo credit: Ed White Photographics, courtesy of CEI Architecture Associates Inc. and Parkin Architects

Biophilia design in healthcare

The consideration of linking humans to nature in design is commonly referred to as biophilic design. Wood is a biophilic material that reduces stress reactivity when present. The rise of the biophilic design movement has encouraged discussion on including natural materials such as wood in designed environments.

This paper by FPInnovations is a review of the appropriate research on the human response to natural elements in the built environment – views to nature, natural light, nature sounds, materials inside the building such as water, plants and wood – and the positive effects they have on human health.

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