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

Shodoshima

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about Shodoshima

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Private 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 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

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