• Shou Sugi Ban: The Traditional Art of Charred Cedar

Shou Sugi Ban

The Traditional Japanese Art of Charred Cedar

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  • Home ホームページ
  • Overview 概要
    • History
    • People
    • Architecture
    • Design
  • News ニュース
    • Newsletter
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    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Techniques 技術
    • Shou Sugi Ban 101
    • DIY Projects
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Overview

Shou Sugi Ban 焼杉板 (or Yakisugi) is an ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Traditionally, sugi 杉 (Cryptomeria japonica L.f.), also called Japanese red-cedar, was used. The process involves charring the wood, cooling it, cleaning it, and finishing it with a natural oil.

Today Shou Sugi Ban is an environmentally friendly way to preserve timber and, paradoxically, make it fire-resistant. Chemical preservatives, paints and retardants are therefore unnecessary. In addition to exterior uses, the popular technique is now found in interior rooms, furniture, and artwork.

Learn more…

Architecture, Design, News, Showcase

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…

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April 8, 2024
Architecture, News, Showcase

Farm Life: Shou Sugi Ban in the Rocky Mountains

A shou sugi ban wrapped modern pastoral retreat set just south of Denver, Clearview Farm encompasses nearly 15 acres with a 1.5-acre pond and fields zoned for agriculture and equestrian…

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March 28, 2023
Architecture, Design, News, Showcase, Travel, Wellness

Finding a Shou Sugi Ban Retreat in The Hamptons

Perhaps the most cleansing place in The Hamptons, Shou Sugi Ban House is a fully wellness-directed combination of food, instruction, and wabi-sabi aesthetics. Here, Debbie Kropf has fitted the low-lying structures and guest…

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December 28, 2019
  • Architecture,  Design,  News

    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.

    read more

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  • Design,  News

    Shou-Sugi-Ban Is Setting the Siding World on Fire

    From Houzz, architects and designers weigh in on the benefits and beautiful aesthetics of using shou sugi ban in their work. Translated as “the burning of Japanese cypress (sugi)”, shou-sugi-ban is a process that chars the surface of exterior wood panels to create a dark material that is both protective and beautiful in any architectural project.

    read more

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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.

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  • Design,  DIY,  News,  Suminagashi,  Techniques

    What is Suminagashi?

    Suminagashi or “floating ink” is the ancient process of marbling plain paper with water and ink to transform it into something vibrant and colorful. It originated in Japan as early as the 12th century. Find out more.

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  • Design,  News

    Burn Baby Burn: A Modern Shou Sugi Ban Fireplace

    O the irony of creating a fireplace made from charred wood. Shou sugi ban’s amazing fire resistant properties make this an ideal and safer choice than standard lumber.  

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 Older Posts
Newer Posts 

The Traditional Japanese Art of Charred Cedar

Shou Sugi Ban 焼杉板 (or Yakisugi) is an ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Traditionally, sugi 杉 (Cryptomeria japonica L.f.), also called Japanese red-cedar, was used. The process involves charring the wood, cooling it, cleaning it, and finishing it with a natural oil.

Today Shou Sugi Ban is an environmentally friendly way to preserve timber through charring which, paradoxically, makes it fire-resistant. Chemical preservatives, paints and retardants are therefore unnecessary. In addition to exterior uses, the popular technique is now found in interior rooms, furniture, and artwork.
Learn more…

Recent Posts

  • Dragon Mansion Clad in Striking Shou Sugi Ban Exterior
    June 9, 2025
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  • In England, Couple Builds a Serene Shou Sugi Ban Retreat
    April 12, 2025
  • Farmhouse Fixer find Shou Sugi Ban Barn Doors a Delight
    March 8, 2025
  • Waterfront Mid-Century Home in Seattle gets Shou Sugi Ban Treatment
    February 12, 2025

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