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Wood as a construction and building-material and its
significance for the physical and psychic health of human beings
An assessment of the scientific, medical, ethologic
and socio cultural significance of wood as a natural product and versatile
material
Preface
The symposium "Innovative processing of wood" performed by ALPENFORUM
June 2003 in Murau (Austria) clearly demonstrated profound deficits both in
sound scientific knowledge and public perception of wood properties. This is
true for the use of wood as construction material as well as for other
applications.
In spite of the age old use of wood, sound scientific studies focussing on its
relevance for the physical and psychic well-being of humans hardly exist. This
is particularly the case for wood as a building material in private or public
edifices or in other technical constructions. Comprehensive literature however
exists concerning aspects of the physical and technical profile of wood as
compared to other materials such as brick, concrete or plastic.
It is all the more surprising that corresponding studies dealing with the health
relevance of wood only exist in a fragmentary manner, if at all.
Whereas ecologic functions of forest, such as bio climatic properties, have well
been researched, little is known about the relationship of humans to the
forest´s essential product, timber. The contribution of forest as supplier of
oxygen and consumer of carbon dioxide is common knowledge. Yet man´s affective,
cognizant and connotive perception of wood as a natural product lies mostly in
the dark.
Ultimately, only few people can clearly point out the real properties of wood as
a versatile construction material.
ALPENFORUM is presently examining the feasibility of a corresponding research
project in order to close as best possible the gaps of knowledge indicated, The
two year project is scheduled to become operative in the course of 2004.
Intermediate results obtained will be published.
Methodology
Particular emphasis will be given to basic scientific data, medical and sanitary
perspectives as well as aspects of human ethology and cultural sociology.
Data selection and registration will include literature studies as well as
interview documentation for both qualitative and quantitative interviewing.
Hence, the project will acquire a pilot function.
The study claims to remember, account for and avoid results that might have
been commented by Immanuel Kant as "perhaps being correct in theory, but
useless in practice!"
Open questions
Genetic disposition
From a phylo genetic point of view, man is a child of the savannah. Apparently,
he feels comfortable in a grassy savannah habitat with undulating hills,
occasionally covered with bushes and tree groups. - but not in the "dark"
woods.
Irenäus Eibl-Eibisfeld, the distinguished human ethologist claims that mankind
has developed a genetically coded phytophily in the course of its development.
It is to be examined, whether this phytophilic attribute also coincides with
certain effects of wood as a natural product. Does e. g. the touching of wood
evoke (genetically coded) pleasant feelings?
Cultural aspects
Man is not only a creature of nature, but equally a product of cultural
influence. Hence, the question is, whether or not traditional myths and
ideologies as well as customs and usages can promote the use of and preference
for certain materials. It is well known that forests not only in German cultural
areas reflect something secretive and uncanny, whereas light, open spaces are
far more appreciated. In Goethe's "Faust" this view has been expressed.
Whether this negative connotion also applies to wood as part of the forest
requires to be examined.
In any case, not all too long ago poorer people lived in timber houses, whereas
stone houses witnessed a higher level of culture and prosperity. It has to be
verified, whether this perception of status correlated with the choice of
building material still holds true .
It can be assumed, however, that the present trend to build prestigious "cult"
constructions such as recreation edifices, large timbered bridges or even fully
wood constructed hotels, puts to doubt the ancient dualism in construction
material.
Scientific and medical aspects
Since an unbiased knowledge of the actual properties of wood has priority, it
will be necessary to examine how well informed the public is with respect to
such properties e.g. as heat transfer and insulating properties of wood, sound
attenuation or its protective effect against radiation.
A special gap of knowledge must be closed concerning the influenced of wood
for building material and interior furnishing. This is of decisive importance in
order to verify the influence of wood on the physical and psychic wellness of
human beings and their imagined or true state of health.
Another aspect deals with the question, whether wood can alleviate stress
phenomena, such as e. g. whether a housewife has less trouble in cleaning the
interior of her house because it is of wood.
In this context, it is also interesting to evaluate public knowledge concerning
the application potential of wood
Particular care must be developed to the question, what people appreciate about
wood and what not, both in respect to means of application as well as other
factors such as aesthetics or general hygiene.
It speaks for itself that the same questions apply to any draw backs of wood use,
whether real or merely imagined.
Forest owners will be interested to learn, whether their timber is believed to
display specific advantages, above all with respect to quality, thus possibly
compensating a price difference.
It may be assumed that profound deficits in knowledge exist for most of these
questions. It is extremely important to change this situation.
One conceivable approach could be the mandatory introduction of wood as a
subject in the school curriculum: Contrarily to public perception knowledge
obtained at school is comparatively lasting!
Image
To quote Epiktet: "Not the matters themselves worry people, but their
perception of such matters". If we decide in favour of a product, objective
properties certainly are of importance, but the perception ("image")
we have of such an object can heavily influence the decision. This obviously is
just as true for wood and its different uses.
In assessing the wood image, the well established semantic differential will
generally be the method of choice. The point of reference can be an imaginary
ideal building material. Alternatively, wood can be compared with other
materials in order to establish a certain ranking. It is recommended to
differentiate wood according to its final processing stage, such as wood houses,
wood furniture, wood flooring and interior panelling, wood constructions such as
wood halls, timber bridges, hotels or factories, or timber chips and pellets as
an energy source for thermal power plants.
Innovation
As with any other product or process, wood applications can be expected to find
broader acceptance provided they have been adopted by "trendsetters",
who may be considered as innovators "marching at the front of progress"
(Thomas Mann).
Innovation supported by poorer people usually remain within their own circle.
Based on the experience gained with innovative wood products already established,
it is necessary to retrace the process of adoption and diffusion.
It also has to be clarified, which significance - aside from the innovator´s
merit - must be attributed to the influence of advertising and marketing..
Finally, the elements are to be evaluated that determine the purchaser´s (consumer´s)
decision. This should include e. g. pricing, function, durability, novelty,
aesthetics and prestige value of the product.
Conclusion
The purpose of the research project outlined is to find out in which manner and
to what extent wood products can contribute towards life quality and well being
of the consumer.
Last but not least the results obtained can contribute to a more successful
strategy to prevent a fatal misjudgement of wood properties and merits. Hence,
the investigation not only serves the individual human being, but equally all
men and women that are involved in forest management, wood processing, designing
and manufacturing wood products and supplying the timber required to this end.
Further information:
On behalf of the project management:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Franz Kromka
Institut für Sozialwissenschaft des Agrarbereichs
Schloß-Museumsflügel
Universität Hohenheim
70593 Stuttgart
Deutschland
Fon +49-711-459 26 40
Fax +49-711-459 26 52
e-mail: maulbets@uni-hohenheim.de
On behalf of ALPENFORUM International:
Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Ian C. Meerkamp van Embden
Höllsteinstr. 20 h
61350 Bad Homburg
Deutschland
Tel. +49-6172-98 30 63
e-mail: ALPENFORUM@t-online.de
www.ALPENFORUM.org
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