Architecture
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Escape to a Shou Sugi Ban Tree House in the English Forest
A magical tree-house retreat has opened its doors in the village of Lee in England’s stunning North Devon region. Built largely by hand, this luxurious one-bedroom rental is dressed in a combination of reclaimed and modern materials. Set within remote woodland, the Treehouse Retreat immerses guests in a private paradise in nature without sacrificing modern comforts. Built to sleep two, the two-story Treehouse Retreat is clad in locally sourced cedar charred using Shou Sugi Ban, a Japanese technique that enhances the grain of the wood and naturally protects it from rot, pests and the elements. Timber is used throughout the interior as well to tie the tree-house to its surroundings. Reclaimed flooring from an old…
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Silicon Valley Retreat takes Cues from Shou Sugi Ban and Nature
High above Silicon Valley sits a striking home with a two-story volume clad in blackened cedar. Schwartz and Architecture designed the Shou Sugi Ban House, which is named after the traditional Japanese method used to burn the wood, which wraps it in a layer of carbon highly resistant to water, fire, and mold. The charred timber volume is an extension to an existing one-story home, the interior of which was also substantially remodeled by the architects. Located on the crest of a hill in Los Gatos, California, Shou Sugi Ban House is a renovation and expansion project that takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape, including the texture and look of boulders, bark, and leaves.…
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Craftsman Creates Stylish Exteriors with Shou Sugi Ban
An increasing number of Western architects and designers these days create arresting exteriors using a process known as shou sugi ban, a centuries-old Japanese technique for preserving and finishing wood by charring it with fire. The treatment — which leaves behind a dense, carbonized layer of blackness — has been around since at least the 18th century, though earlier examples exist. It began as a practical process used mostly for fencing and the facades of rural homes and storehouses, which held valuables, like rice, that families hoped to protect from blazes. Interestingly, while it is no longer as popular as it once was in Japan, it’s found new life in the…
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Architectural Digest on Shou Sugi Ban Benefits
Use Shou Sugi Ban to Waterproof Wood Furniture Shou sugi ban (焼杉板) is the art of preserving and finishing wood using fire. While shou sugi ban (焼杉板) originated in Japan in the 18th century primarily as way to treat cedar siding to make it weatherproof, the technique—which involves charring a wood surface to render it a deep charcoal-black—has caught on recently as a treatment for contemporary exteriors and indoor furnishings alike. You can even find variations elevated to fine art, as in the work of the artist Maarten Baas. The gravitas imparted by the process and finished result (also called yakisugi) are undeniable, a blackening of the wood that reveals clean, distinct lines and an inherent…
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Shou Sugi Ban Retreat in Texas Hill Country
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has used shou sugi ban charred wood, local stone and large stretches of glass to form this country home for an Austin, TX family. The Llano Retreat is situated along the Llano River in central Texas, about 75 miles northwest of the city. For years, the property had served as a primitive campsite for fly-fishing outings and weekend getaways. The family camped under a pole-structure with a metal roof. When the clients ultimately decided to build a more permanent retreat, they charged Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture with creating a building that embraced the natural terrain. “After years of getting to know the ranch land, the family chose a site…
