Shou sugi ban

At Spaarnwoude Park Hotel, Mulderblauw architecten brings together nature-inclusive design and considered material choices. Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban supplied the Yoroi façade cladding: deeply charred, FSC®-certified bamboo with fire classification B-s1,d0. The project shows how ambitions for biobased architecture can take shape within today’s technical requirements, giving the hotel’s sustainability ambitions a visible, tangible expression. First Fotografie Sustainable design, from landscape to materialFor architects, sustainable construction calls for choices that work at every scale. At Spaarnwoude Park Hotel, this starts with its integration into the green recreational landscape and extends to the building e... More

A sculptural thatched roof and vertically arranged charred timber define the exterior of this villa. The roof’s shifting lines and deep overhangs are balanced by the steady rhythm of the cladding below. Dark window frames connect visually with the black timber, while lighter wall surfaces introduce contrast between the different building volumes. First Fotografie The façade combines two charred wood products from Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban: Naoshima and Omiyama Strong. Each brings a distinct surface structure to the shared black palette, creating variation without introducing additional colours. First Fotografie Naoshima is made from Douglas fir. Its robust carbon layer retains the expression of knots and the underly... More

Along the A15 in Dodewaard, GMB has realised a new headquarters that reflects the company’s ambition to work fully circularly by 2030. Designed by ARCOM architectuur and realised by Aan de Stegge Twello, the approximately 3,000 m² building brings together offices, workspaces and supporting functions within an almost entirely timber construction. MVL Media Groep GPR Building score of 8.5 The sustainability ambitions of the project are supported by a GPR Building score of 8.5, assessing the building across energy, environmental performance, health, quality of use and future value. Rather than treating sustainability as an additional layer, the design incorporates it into the structure, material choices and future adaptabilit... More

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

A special animal collection deserves a building with an equally thoughtful material identity. For LimburgHUIS at GaiaZOO, the starting point was clear: the use of natural materials and a design approach with minimal environmental impact. Caption Located within the green surroundings of the zoo, the building combines local character with a strong architectural expression. The base is constructed from Kunraderstone, a natural stone from the province of Limburg. Above this grounded foundation, Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was used to create a dark, tactile and distinctive upper volume. Caption For the main façade, Naoshima by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was selected. The charred wood gives the building a powerful black appearance... More

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