Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Charred wood cladding

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about charred wood cladding

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanPrivate Houses

Japanese-inspired living with charred wood

On two adjacent plots with a total area of 894 square metres, two detached single-storey houses from the 1960s have been transformed into one coherent architectural composition. Designed by Thomas Wyss, the project brings together Japanese-inspired details, natural materials and a deep sensitivity to landscape. Jürg Zimmermann Rather than allowing the architecture to dominate its setting, the design creates a calm dialogue with the garden. Water, stone, trees and carefully framed views become part of the spatial experience. Inside and outside are closely connected, with large openings, natural timber, stone surfaces and refined detailing guiding the eye towards the surrounding greenery. Jürg Zimmermann For the fa&ccedi... More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanPrivate Houses

A mindful retreat in nature

Surrounded by water, open fields and mature trees, this holiday home on Schermerland is designed as a place of calm, connection and retreat. The architecture sits carefully within the landscape, embracing the quiet rhythm of the surroundings while creating a strong and contemporary material identity. For this project, the architects selected Shodoshima by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban to clad the three separate volumes. By using the same charred and brushed wood across the different elements, the design gains a sense of unity. The dark façades connect the main house, the guest volume and the yoga space, while allowing each volume to retain its own position within the landscape. Jorrit ’t Hoen Jorrit ’t Hoen The de... More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanOffices

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 BanOffices

Daelken headquarters in Germany

An elegant cube with a silvery sheen. Creative teams of architects are at work at this headquarters.  In September 2019, our charred wood Marugame was ready to be mounted on the facade. For this project, we fired the planks of different widths piece by piece in our own oven. Christa Henke The black facade with playful pattern perfectly matches the square windows and the glossy look of the Daelken logo.  The design by Daelken architektur stands for strength, warmth and style. Christa Henke More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanHighways

Groene Boog

We proudly present a new Yoroi project of public buildings designed by Quist Wintermans Architekten: De Groene Boog! Our assembly team mounts the entire façade of the service buildings with our charred bamboo ‘’Yoroi‘’ including fire class B-s1-d0. Kees de Vries Kees de Vries More

Project • By BDG ArchitectenPrimary Schools

Esdal College Borger

On the outskirts of the municipality of Borger-Odoorn, in the east of the Netherlands, the new building of the Esdal College offers a modern home for around two hundred pre-vocational secondary education (vmbo) students. They themselves were also allowed to help determine what their ideal school should look like. Together with the teachers, they created a list of requirements: the new school had to include high-tech features and provide a warm, homely, and safe atmosphere. BDG Architecten The two-story school building is compact and clearly organized around a distinctly recognizable core. The ground floor is designed for activity oriented learning, with practical subjects such as 'Services & Products' and 'Arts & Culture'. On... More

Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanShodoshima

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 BanTakamatsu

Takamatsu

Takamatsu wood is cut at right angles to the growth rings (quarters/false quarters). This cutting method gives Takamatsu a special but fine, linear structure and a classic, calm feel. The planks are charred in our own oven after which the wood is brushed and treated again. Takamatsu is resistant to all weather conditions and does not stain. After charring and brushing, Takamatsu 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. Takamatsu 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 cladding. Characteristic of... More

Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanNaoshima

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