Soul of Wood: A Systematic Review on Integrating Aesthetic Bio-Aesthetics and Engineering Functionality (2003–2025)

The materiality of wood is often confined to a rigid dichotomy between the technical parameters of engineering and the aesthetic value of the arts. Recent scholarship has shown more interest in integrating these domains; however, considerable gaps remain, particularly in the limited exploration of emotional sustainability within contemporary sustainability discourse. In this systematic literature review (SLR), we aimed to summarize the evolving understanding of wood, from a purely structural material to a medium of cultural communication. We also investigated how blending aesthetics and engineering affects the longevity of wood. We used the SLR method in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 protocol. Data were collected exclusively from the Scopus database, covering publications from 2003 to 2025. From an initial set of 3,705 records, a rigorous screening process resulted in 20 studies that met all inclusion criteria for in-depth analysis. We found that Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences dominated the literature, each accounting for 27% of the publications. Engineering followed with 16.2%. The analysis demonstrated that integrating the visual and sensory qualities of wood with its engineering performance enhanced sustainability through emotional durability, which reduces the tendency toward premature disposal. Theoretically, the results obtained in this study contribute to the development of transdisciplinary materiality. Practically, it offers guidance for designers and the craft industry to integrate local wisdom with modern technology, fostering material innovations that embody cultural meaning and authentic “soul.”