News
-
Shou Sugi Ban Stands Strong in the Seaside
Unexpected challenges changed one family’s plans twice. First, Simone Mansour, a marketing consultant and interior architect, her husband David Mansour, an IT consultant, and their son, Felix, planned to move to the countryside outside Brighton, about one hour from London by train. The family lost out to other buyers several times and then in 2016 stumbled on a charming 1930s villa by the sea with equal access to the South Downs countryside and Brighton’s city center. “There are lots of traditional homes in Sussex with orange-colored tiles, so we ran matching tiles from the roofline to the ground in the front of the house,” Simone said. “We also love Asia,…
-
Spiral Land Art in Shou Sugi Ban Style
Artist and architect Mathieu Nouhen transformed an agricultural plot in France into an archaic-inspired land art with mystical undertones. The temporary artwork, dubbed Fossile, reveals a spiral arrangement of stakes, reminiscent of a fossil and symbolizing the only vestige remaining of man’s imprint on this landscape. ‘It is the passage of man that creates strength, abnormality, absurdity. We symbolize a present or past presence. It is a form turned towards humans, but also towards the other inhabitants of this agricultural land, those who will witness the change,’ shares Nouhen. A spiral stake arrangement using Shou Sugi Ban technique The spiral arrangement by Mathieu Nouhen (see more here) follows the Shou Sugi Ban technique that…
-
Why Charred Lumber Is the Upgrade Your Next Project Needs
If you’re thinking of building a deck, or even just installing some shelves, but you’re having a hard time choosing a finish for your wood, charred lumber might be right for you. Charring adds color to lumber, making it darker and more visually novel while retaining some of the best features of natural wood—but it can also make timber more durable and water resistant. Here’s what you need to know about charred lumber before starting your next woodworking project. A quick history of charred lumber The technique for charring lumber comes from Japan, and was popular in the Edo period as a way of preserving wood, especially for exterior siding.…
-
Trio of Tectonic Structures in Wyoming Echo Shou Sugi Ban
Located on a 35-acre property near the town of Wilson, Wyoming the home was envisioned as a series of “tectonic structures” set within a diverse ecosystem. The home looks toward the Tetons, a mountain range that rises sharply from the Jackson Hole valley. The property features a pine forest and stands of aspens, which transition to a rolling meadow. Composed of three distinct buildings – a main house, guesthouse and writer’s studio – the project was designed for a California-based couple who manage an independent record label. Both homeowners are also authors, and they desired a second home in rural Wyoming where they could write while immersed in nature. Each…
-
Off-Grid Italian Restoration Project Preserves Wood with Shou Sugi Ban
Immersed in the woods, Buen Retiro is the restoration and expansion of an ancient stone ruin designed by the architect Dario Castellino from Cuneo. In complete harmony with the surrounding nature, it overlooks the Stura valley in Roccasparvera, in the province of Cuneo, where the mountain gently slopes towards the river. Located in the picturesque area of Broglio (in local jargon “germoglio” or “sprout”), Buen Retiro is a virtuous sprout that revitalizes an ancient place of rural life. The project reflects Castellino’s ongoing commitment to enhancing and requalifying small alpine hamlets, as demonstrated by his interventions in the Cuneo valleys at Paraloup and Campofei. From a partially collapsed ruin, overgrown…
