Less stress: How natural materials increase productivity in the office

Do you know that feeling? You’re sitting in an open-plan office, trying to concentrate on writing an email, but there’s a constant hum of noise all around you. You escape to one of the usual phone booths —but inside, it feels like being in an elevator: smooth, cold walls, artificial lighting, a sterile atmosphere. You may have peace and quiet, but you certainly don’t feel comfortable.

This is no coincidence. Our brains respond to our environment as a result of evolution. While sustainable office furniture is often seen merely as a branding factor, recent studies show that the materials surrounding us have a direct impact on our stress levels (cortisol) and our cognitive performance.

In this article, you'll discover why a wooden phone booth is more than just a design statement—and how biophilic design can measurably boost your team's productivity.

The “Forest Effect” in the Office: What Is Biophilic Design?

The term may sound complicated, but the principle is simple: biophilic design means “building with a love for living things.” Humans have evolved over thousands of years in nature. Our brains relax immediately when they perceive organic structures such as wood grain, plants, or soft textiles.

In modern offices, the opposite is often the case: glass, aluminum, and white plastic. These materials signal “coldness” and “alertness” to our subconscious.

According to studies, using genuine solid Swiss ash wood in office environments can significantly reduce stress levels. People who work in an environment that feels “natural” are proven to be up to 17% more productive and creative. So it’s not just about “coziness”—it’s about hard business metrics.

Wood vs. aluminum: Why the material makes all the difference

When companies want to improve their room acoustics, many opt for the first solution that comes to mind: mass-produced metal booths. While these serve their purpose (noise reduction), they often create new problems.

1. The acoustics inside

Hard surfaces such as glass and metal reflect sound "harshly." In cheap booths, your own voice often sounds tinny or echoey. In a Shelter Office Pod, by contrast, the high-quality fabric and solid wood absorb sound naturally. The result: your voice sounds warmer and more assured—both for you and for the person you're speaking with on the video call.

2. The feel and smell

Aluminum feels cold. Plastic smells like fumes. A Shelter Office Pod has a subtle woody scent and feels warm to the touch. This small sensory difference determines whether employees use the pod only in emergencies—or whether they come to love it as a retreat for deep work.

Investment instead of disposable products: durability as a principle

At a time when sustainability is often just a buzzword, we at Shelter focus on facts. Office furniture should not be disposable.

Many “smart pods” are crammed with built-in tablets and sensors. The problem: the software becomes outdated, and the screens break. After five years, the device becomes electronic waste.

We take a different approach—that of genuine craftsmanship:

• Maintenance-free technology: We deliberately avoid unnecessary frills (“zero-maintenance”). The ventilation and lighting simply work—for decades.
• Indestructible fabrics: Our upholstery can withstand over 100,000 Martindale abrasion cycles. By comparison, a standard office sofa often lasts only 30,000 cycles.
• Repairability: If a part does get scratched after 10 years, the solid ash wood can simply be sanded down and oiled.

This makes a Shelter Office Pod not only the most eco-friendly choice for your office, but also the most cost-effective one in the long run.

Conclusion: Build offices for people, not machines

The return to the office will only be successful if the office offers spaces that are better than working from home. A soundproof office podthat feels like a high-quality piece of furniture is a sign of appreciation for your team.

At Shelter, we believe that technology should support us, not dominate us. That’s why we conceal our ventilation system and Swiss cable harness within the design, so you can focus on what matters most: your work.

Working side by side is wonderful. Constantly overhearing one another, less so.