Healthy Homes
The notion of a “healthy building” extends beyond structural integrity and energy performance—healthy buildings enhance people’s lives.
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.
MAKAR timber-rich homes, internals and externals.
Air quality - eliminating toxic and synthetic materials
MAKAR homes use natural and local materials to ensure a healthy, well performing home. We eliminate the use of synthetic materials as far as possible, whilst ensuring a warm, dry and well-ventilated building.
Our reasons for eliminating synthetic materials are of utmost importance: Numerous health risks have been attributed to the absorption of toxins from the indoor environment. Much of this has been accredited to the fabric of our modern homes, which has seen the introduction of synthetic and oil-based materials along with increasingly airtight envelopes.
Many of these materials are known to release noxious gases which become trapped within the home, and absorbed or inhaled by occupants. Dampness in the home is another serious issue that can lead to the proliferation of mould and house dust mite leading to respiratory illnesses for the occupants. We also use Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) which continuously refreshes indoor air while recovering heat from outgoing stale air.
As well as the use of healthy materials, we develop design solutions that utilise the landscape and available space, capture the best views and allow daylight to enter. This creates an enjoyable and relaxing place to live for the benefit of mental health.
How timber-rich homes enhance your health
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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This advanced system continuously refreshes indoor air while recovering heat from outgoing stale air. Combined with timber’s low thermal mass properties and superior insulation, this reduces energy loss and improves indoor air quality, improving you and your family’s health and well-being.
This approach ensures health and heating aren’t bolt-ons, but incorporated into building design from the beginning.
Our healthy building system
MAKAR employs a timber-based off-site construction system whereby each house is manufactured in our Inverness workshops. Our system is defined as Natural Structural Insulated Panels (Nat-SIPs), recognising the fact that they are constructed of high-quality, natural materials. Your house is delivered to site as a series of Nat-SIP panels, with cladding, roofing, insulation, windows and doors already installed.
Quality is assured as the superstructure of the house has been manufactured in a controlled environment allowing a high degree of precision and quality control. The house is brought to a wind and watertight stage very quickly – which is ideal in our Scottish climate!
Frequently Asked Questions
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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. -
Yes! We run frequent free tours of our prototype home and our workshop in Inverness. Head to our Eventbrite page to book your spot.