Architecture
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Japanese Surrealist Architect Revels In Fairytale Visions
A one-legged Shou sugi ban teahouse suspended amid cherry trees in the Japanese mountains showcases the vivid imagination and designs of architect Terunobu Fujimori. Conceiving his first creation at the age of 42, Fujimori is considered one of the world’s first surrealists in his field. Working solely with natural materials such as earth, wood and stone, the modern eccentric has dedicated his career to pioneering contemporary design with buildings “that float in the air” and roofs covered with living leek plants. Curating the Japanese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2006, Fujimori invited audiences to remove their shoes and enter the exhibition through a hole in a wooden wall to…
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Shou-Sugi-Ban Wood Siding
From Remodelista, a photo-overview of how to create Shou Sugi Ban siding. One family’s account of building a house in Southern California with Mexico City–born, San Diego–based architect Sebastian Mariscal.
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Buildings Made Of Previously Charred Lumber Reduce House Fire Risk
From PSFK, an article espousing the benefits of using Shou Sugi Ban in contemporary homes – including reduced fire risk. The manufacturing process is detailed, accurate and dangerous, creating anything from a highly burnt fragile look to a sleek and contemporary finish.
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A Teahouse, Charred and Blackened (On Purpose)
From Gardenista, explore a zen garden tea house in the Czech Republic inspired by shou sugi ban. Built for a family that wanted a peaceful, contemplative spot on the southern edge of a garden, the tea house is a variation of an unpretentious style that the architects developed after they traveled together to Japan while still students at Prague’s Academy of Art, Architecture and Design.
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Remodeling 101: Shou Sugi Ban Wood as Siding and Flooring
Repeat after us: Shou sugi ban. Devised as a way to make wood less susceptible to fire and to keep away insects and rot, this longstanding Japanese method involves torching your building materials. The results are long lived and hauntingly beautiful. And now charred wood is widely available for domestic use. From Remodelista, about how shou sugi ban is catching fire in the world of hip designers and architects.
