Waterfront Mid-Century Home in Seattle gets Shou Sugi Ban Treatment
Seattle-based SHED Architecture and Design was asked to celebrate the original structure, while making it work for a family of five. “Although it had good bones, the original house was not in good shape,” says SHED design principal Prentis Hale. “We honored the house first and foremost by not tearing it down.”
The home’s exterior takes cues from both the original midcentury design as well as traditional Japanese architecture—an interest of the clients that had grown during their travels to Japan. “The choice of white brick was inspired by pictures of traditional Japanese buildings combining white plaster walls and weathered shou sugi ban siding taken by the client on a trip to Japan,” shares Hale. “The use of wood siding over brick—in our case, shou sugi ban over white bricks—honored the design of the original facade,” he explains.
The choice of shou sugi ban—with its saturated color and distinctive char—was an idea proposed by the homeowners. “During our travels in Japan we were struck by the simple elegance of shou sugi ban,” said the client. Digging deeper, they soon discovered its strength and durability, giving them confidence it could hold up in the extreme weather conditions typical in their coastal Washington climate.
The rich color and signature texture of the shou sugi ban siding also beautifully served the design intent set forth by the homeowners and SHED team. “While the house is not a traditional Japanese house, we felt the material palette could imbue the house with a sense of materiality evocative of Japanese architecture,” explains Hale. This meant opting for a restrained palette at the exterior—wood, brick, metal, and glass—all which would weather differently, but harmoniously, over time. Embracing contrast, the white bricks and black siding give the structure strength and elegance, while the opposing colors also deliberately contrast with the landscape.
Reflecting on the home’s form and materiality, all are eager to see how it continues to evolve within the landscape. “The shou sugi ban siding and white brick give both house and cabin a strong but sympathetic presence in the landscape,” he says. The siding, Hale adds, will weather and patina over time, while the surrounding vegetation has already begun to grow onto the house. “I enjoy how the house asserts itself, but also gives way to the landscape,” Hale says. “We look forward to visiting to see how it is changing over time—that it is becoming more beautiful with age.”
