THE NATURE OF WOOD: An Exploration of the science on biophilic responses to wood
INTRODUCTION TO BIOPHILIA
Humans seem to have an innate affinity for nature a phenomenon known as biophilia.5 This connection has become the subject of many research initiatives exploring how different experiences of nature affect humans both physiologically and psychologically, leading to the recognition that designing elements of nature into the built environment can have health benefits including stress reduction, improved cognitive performance, enhanced moods, and increased preference for spaces.6 These benefits are often referred to as ‘biophilic responses’.