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 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.
