Veronika Kotradyová
Wood has surrounded the Homo sapiens species from the very beginning. Woodworking is a firm part of traditional material culture all around the world. It was the most widely available material, easy to work and yet sufficiently hard; people used it to make tools, shelters, everyday items and weapons, which helped them survive. Today, wood is still an easily available, renewable raw material used to make materials used in the construction industry. It is mainly used for ecological buildings and their interior, including items of everyday use. And although it is being massively replaced by other materials, people are far from wanting to give it up soon: wood induces – and will always induce – a feeling of comfort. Why is this the case? It has both a biological and a cultural explanation. People naturally incline towards local, natural materials; they remind us of an environment which supports survival. Thanks to our inherited, subconscious experiences and preferences, our nervous system can “scan” them; they are easily detected, and this is why we are able to relax when surrounded by these natural materials. For this reason, wood is exceptionally suited to places where we need to feel good, spend quality time or relax. It is pleasant to have it at home, in the workplace, in school and in public spaces.