The average person spends 90% of their time indoors. We live in an era where human well-being is increasingly shaped by the built environment, where the spaces we live, work and relax are not just of aesthetic or functional consideration—they have a profound impact on our health, mood, and overall well-being.
Timber-rich homes — not just timber framed homes — are at the forefront of eco-friendly home design, blending biophilic principles, sustainability, energy efficiency and well-being. Beyond their tactile warmth and visual appeal, wooden homes that eschew plastics and toxic materials, foster an environment that can reduce stress, enhance productivity, and improve air quality. As we shift towards a more holistic understanding of health-conscious living, timber construction is at the forefront of this movement, offering an antidote to the synthetic, high-carbon and toxic materials that have long dominated mass homebuilding.
What is biophilia, and why does it matter?
At the heart of building healthy timber homes is the principle of biophilia — humanity’s innate connection to nature. This concept, coined by biologist Edward O. Wilson, underpins a growing body of research demonstrating that environments rich in natural elements — wood, plants, water and sunlight — can significantly enhance cognitive performance, emotional stability, and even immune function. Exposure to wood within interior spaces has been shown to lower cortisol levels, reduce blood pressure and enhance overall mood.
In a time when the boundaries between work and home have blurred, creating these environments that inherently support concentration and relaxation has never been more critical.
Beyond timber-frame homes: how timber-rich homes enhance your health
1. Timber homes can reduce stress
Timber surfaces have been shown to induce a measurable calming effect; the visual and tactile presence of wood can reduce heart rates and lower stress levels. Unlike synthetic materials, which can feel cold and impersonal, timber interiors can create a warm calming atmosphere, fostering relaxation and reducing anxiety.
2. Timber-rich environments can boost cognitive function productivity
Whether working from home or the office, timber-rich environments can improve cognitive function and sustained attention. Research has demonstrated that natural materials, particularly timber, can enhance memory retention, concentration, and creative problem-solving.
3. Seeing wood can help with mood regulation and psychological well-being
The visual and tactile presence of wood can promote a sense of well-being. In contrast to sterile, high-gloss interiors, timber-clad environments can help elevate mood, eliciting a sense of energy and comfort.
4. Timber-rich homes enhance air quality and lower exposure to toxic components
Many mass-produced buildings and homes are made from single-use oil-based and toxic components, whereas timber is a natural, non-toxic alternative that reduces exposure to pollutants, contributing to improved indoor air quality. MAKAR goes one step further in this by using untreated timber, again removing and reducing toxic components from its housing.
Additionally, timber’s vapour-permeable properties can help regulate humidity, reducing the likelihood of mould formation and respiratory issues.
5. Energy efficiency in timber-rich homes: Lower running costs and higher performance
Timber’s low thermal mass properties allow for superior insulation and temperature regulation, leading to greater energy efficiency and reduced reliance on artificial heating and cooling systems.
Take a virtual walk-through of MAKAR’s popular healthy home designs
Untreated timber homes: a sustainable and carbon-negative building solution
Beyond its direct health benefits, timber represents one of the most sustainable building materials available today. Unlike concrete and steel — which account for a substantial percentage of global carbon emissions — timber acts as a carbon sink, sequestering atmospheric CO₂ for the duration of its lifecycle.
Beyond health. Key environmental benefits of timber eco-construction:
- Reduced embodied carbon in timber buildings: Embodied carbon from the construction and refurbishment of buildings currently makes up 20% of UK built environment emissions. Timber has significantly lower embodied carbon compared to common building materials like concrete or steel, dramatically lowering the carbon footprint of buildings throughout construction. A Carbon Measurement Study by the University of East Anglia on four affordable MAKAR homes found they were not just net zero but carbon negative on delivery when carbon sequestration was taken into account.
- Energy efficient homes leading to lower running costs: MAKAR’s fabric-first approach guarantees superior thermal efficiency, minimises cold bridges, and ensures high levels of airtightness, boosting both comfort and energy efficiency. This in turn reduces dependency on fossil fuel-driven climate control systems and lowers utility bills. Explore how MAKAR homes are energy efficient, and how our panel system meets Passive Haus criteria.
- Circular economy potential: Responsibly sourced timber aligns with circular economy principles, allowing for reuse, repurposing, and eventual biodegradation.
The future of healthy architecture and eco-construction
The notion of a “healthy building” extends beyond structural integrity and energy performance—healthy buildings enhance people’s lives.
Our built environment must evolve to become a source of resilience, regeneration, and renewal. MAKAR’s timber-rich, energy-efficient, healthy and inspiring homes offer a blueprint for the future — they can be the foundation of Scotland’s natural carbon pump and a catalyst for housing regeneration.
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