Wood For Well-Being: Interior Architecture Perspectives And International Comparative Analysis

This study investigates Wood as a Medium of Well-being in interior architecture, emphasizing its role in enhancing human physical, psychological, and emotional health. While existing research mainly addresses engineering, material science, or environmental psychology, systematic studies within interior spaces remain limited. To fill this gap, the study examines wood not only as a structural or aesthetic material but also as a therapeutic design tool that enriches user experience. A qualitative approach was adopted, combining document analysis, visual documentation, and comparative analysis. Three international cases were analyzed: Oxford Maggie’s Centre (UK), Sara Kulturhus (Sweden), and Vittra Telefonplan School (Sweden). Each was evaluated under four criteria—sensory experience, psychological effects, spatial organization, and sustainability—through content analysis and validated with a Case × Criterion Matrix and triangulation. Findings indicate that wood consistently supports well-being: reducing stress and creating therapeutic atmospheres in healthcare, fostering sustainability and spatial performance in cultural facilities, and encouraging safety, creativity, and belonging in educational spaces. Overall, the study demonstrates that wood is not just a building material but a strategic medium for designing healthy, sustainable, and human-centered interiors, contributing an interior architecture perspective to the Wood & Well-being discourse.