Burned wooden cladding
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about burned wooden cladding
Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Community Centres
Circulair Building Luxemburg
Architecture is generally designed for one specific site. The Multipurpose Hall in Dudelange challenges that convention. Conceived by FAT Architects for the City of Dudelange, the building was designed from the outset to occupy two different locations during its lifetime.
Lukas Roth
The hall currently stands along the Route de Bettembourg, replacing an earlier structure. After approximately eight to ten years, it will be carefully dismantled and reconstructed within the future Nei Schmelz eco-district, on the grounds of a former rolling mill. Rather than treating relocation as a constraint, the architects made it the central principle of the design. The 740 m² project was awarded the Luxembourg Architecture Award 2026 in the cate... More
Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Offices
Trilogy in the city
In the city of Issy-les-Moulineaux, the Trilogy project makes a powerful architectural statement. Comprising 180 residential units and an innovative business centre, the development is composed of three vertical buildings, each with its own identity within the urban fabric.
Joan Bracco
For one of these volumes, Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was asked to create a façade with depth, texture and a strong visual presence. The result is a building fully wrapped in Shodoshima: charred and brushed wood that gives the architecture a distinctive, sculptural character.
Joan Bracco
The dark wooden façade does more than define the exterior. It brings rhythm to the vertical composition, softens the scale of the building and creates... More
Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Private Houses
Shou Sugi Ban bungalow house
For this new home, Nakatado perfectly matched the client’s requirements and the design of FIER architecten.
FIER architecten: ”The clients requested a house with everything on the same level. The roof was a key element that provides large overhangs within the design.
Robert Koelewijn Fotografie
Robert Koelewijn Fotografie
A minimalist and peaceful look was chosen for the house. This included the black charred façade combined with the concrete plinth.
It is a peaceful place in a beautiful green natural setting.”
Robert Koelewijn Fotografie
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Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Private Houses
Biobased home by ORGA architects
Nestled in the Stameren forest near Maarn, this residence stands out for its natural and effortless connection to the surrounding landscape. Positioned at the transition between forest and heathland, each side of the house establishes a unique relationship with nature. The forest side feels intimate and sheltered, while the heathland side offers expansive views, abundant daylight, and a strong sense of openness.
The design of ORGA architects makes use of natural, biobased materials, including the charred Douglas fir façade cladding “Naoshima”. Large glazed surfaces and carefully framed sightlines ensure a continuous connection with the outdoors, allowing the boundary between interior and landscape to gently fade.
Capt... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Yoroi
Yoroi
Yoroi | Fire-safe charred bamboo for uncompromising façade architecture
B-s1,d0 fire performance. No chemical fire retardants. A bio-based material with a powerful architectural identity.
As architecture moves towards a lower-carbon future, façade materials are expected to do more. They must meet demanding fire-safety requirements, reduce embodied carbon, perform reliably for decades and contribute to the architectural identity of a building.
Yoroi brings these demands together in one distinctive façade material.
Developed by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban, Yoroi is a deeply charred façade cladding made from FSC®-certified MOSO® Bamboo X-treme®. Its intense black, tactile surface gives buil... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Shodoshima
Shodoshima
For Shodoshima, the wood is cut parallel to the annual rings (Dosse). This gives Shodoshima a beautiful flame pattern. The planks are charred in our own oven. The wood is then brushed and treated again. The robust and lively grain structure is clearly visible and gleams beautifully in the sun. Shodoshima is resistant to all weather conditions and does not stain.
After charring and brushing, Shodoshima is treated with our Bito Black. Bito Black provides good protection against water, dirt, mould and other deposits. We recommend repeating this treatment every 3 to 5 years.
Shodoshima is made of Douglas fir from sustainably managed European forests. The durability of Douglas wood is Class 3 and is therefore very suitable for use as wall clad... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Sakaide
Sakaide
Sakaide is made of Douglas fir from sustainably managed European forests. Characteristic of Douglas wood is the scent and the presence of knots. These knots may be visible in the flame pattern.
The contrast between the dark and light parts of the wood gives Sakaide a beautiful, rustic look. The planks are cut flat (with the growth rings) and charred in our oven. They are then carefully brushed, thereby creating a characteristic relief of the flame pattern. Sakaide exudes a timeless, but warm atmosphere as a façade, but also on walls, tables and other interior applications.
After charring and brushing, Sakaide is treated with our Bito Clear or Bito Orange.Bito Clear is a transparent oil for interior applications. The oil hardens und... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Nakatado
Nakatado
Nakatado is charred by our fire masters and then brushed and treated with Bito Black. This brings out the lively grain structure which has a height difference of about 1-2 mm between the higher and lower parts. Nakatado is resistant to all weather conditions and does not stain. The flat flame pattern adds a touch of serenity and gives the room a contemporary feel. The versatility of the wood makes Nakatado a great alternative for applications that require a highly durable wood type.
After charring and brushing, Nakatado is treated with our Bito Black which provides good protection against water, dirt, mould and other deposits. We recommend repeating this treatment every 3 to 5 years. We can also provide a silk gloss and/or scratchproof coa... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Naoshima
Naoshima
Naoshima is our version of Shou Sugi Ban and the primary product we are proud of at Zwarthout. Naoshima has an irregular but characteristic pattern, which gleams beautifully in the sun. The brittle, black carbon layer ages over the years acquiring a beautiful patina (weathering), which fits the Japanese philosophy of life of Wabi Sabi. The philosophy of Wabi Sabi embraces the serene beauty of transience and imperfection. Noashima is particularly suitable for exterior applications. The carbon stains somewhat, but it does not wash out when it rains.
The brittle coal layer requires a specific detailing of the building to reduce the influence of wind and weather. We recommend that this type not be used above a height of 6 metres above ground l... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Omiyama
Omiyama
Omiyama’s hard carbon layer gives a brilliant bronze glow in the sun. The deep-charred carbon layer has a robust appearance with an irregular structure and can withstand harsh weather conditions. This makes Omiyama very suitable as durable facade cladding.
In addition to the carbon-only version, we can also supply Omiyama that has undergone a Bito White treatment. This is a water-based ecological resin and will tone down the outer surface, make it slightly more matt and prevent the carbon from staining. This makes the treated version of the product extremely suitable for interior applications.
Omiyama is made of Fraké wood. A sustainable product of Fraké wood, which has undergone hydrothermal modification (in bri... More
Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Marugame
Marugame
This beautiful, charred wood has a characteristic and equally divided pattern. The silvery glow of the charred layer has a different look depending on the angle of the sunlight. The hard charred layer makes Marugame ideal as a sustainable cladding for roofs and facades. Marugame is also very suitable as an attractive eye- catcher in a special interior.
The wood used for Marugame is Accoya® of the Pinus Radiata tree, a fast-growing pine species. The wood is modified through a non-toxic acetylation process. Accoya® is labelled with durability class 1 and other quality certifications (i.a. KOMO, RAL, BBA, WDMA), and a cradle-to- cradle gold certification. The wood has a lifespan of at least 50 years above ground, and 25 years... More