Design for Care – Use of Wood in Public Buildings

Wood is a commonly used interior material in private housing in Northern Europe. However, the use is still marginal in public buildings. This study describes findings on human perception and experiences of wood in care buildings. Human well-being is particularly important in such environments. Therefore, focus is on the relationship between human comfort indoors and spatial design. The buildings and user experiences are evaluated using qualitative study methods, questionnaires, interviews and observation. The aim is to increase the understanding of how wood-based building materials influence human experience of and well-being in indoor environments. Design criteria for care environments, like nursing homes, day-care centres and educational facilities, are evaluated. The results of the ongoing study are used to identify means to improve human well-being indoors and care-building design.