Wood is more than a material. It is a connection to nature, place, craft, culture and wellbeing.

In Issue 22 of The Journal of Biophilic Design, we explore the many ways wood shapes the spaces we live, work, heal and gather in — and ask what it really means to design with timber thoughtfully.

From the sensory and physiological effects of wood to its role in contemporary architecture, interiors, landscapes and furniture, this beautifully illustrated issue brings together designers, architects, researchers and practitioners to explore timber from every angle.

We look at Wood and Wellbeing, exploring why timber can be much more than a beautiful finish, and visit inspiring projects including healthcare and educational spaces by Farrow Partners. We explore the quiet luxury of craftsmanship, the beauty of American walnut, a woodland sauna, and a London workplace designed around disassembly, circularity and biophilic principles.

There are beautiful homes and buildings from around the world, including La Higuera, Trehus One Maidenhead, Cornwall Barn and Pond Place, alongside explorations of timber transformation, natural variation, solid wood flooring and the relationship between wood, landscape and architecture.

But this issue also asks the harder questions.

Where does our wood come from? How responsibly is it sourced? What does certification really mean? And how can choosing timber support forests, biodiversity and the wider living world?

Our Science Behind Biophilic Design section explores the fascinating relationship between wood, pattern, proportion, mathematics and the Golden Ratio, while Wood – The Multisensory, Physiological Magician examines what the research tells us about our responses to this remarkable material.

And because wood's story begins in the forest, we also look at ancient trees, biodiversity, responsible sourcing, planting, gardens and the organisations helping us understand the complex relationship between trees, timber, people and planet.

A celebration of wood — but also an invitation to understand it, specify it and use it more thoughtfully.

Issue 22 – WOOD.

Beautifully designed, richly illustrated and packed with ideas, research, projects and inspiration for anyone interested in biophilic design, architecture, interiors, landscape, materials and wellbeing.