Shou sugi ban

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

Surrounded by flowers, mature greenery and the river Le Clain, this villa in France has undergone a complete transformation. The renovation gives the house a contemporary architectural identity, while preserving a strong connection with its natural setting. Caption For the façade, Marugame by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was selected to bring depth, texture and character to the renovated volume. The distinctive black charred wood wraps the building in a powerful material layer, creating a clear contrast with the surrounding garden, natural stone elements and soft landscape. Caption The silvery-black charcoal surface of Marugame gives the villa a refined and tactile appearance. Its textured finish catches the light in subtle... More

In Riehen, Switzerland, a place known for its radical residential architecture, this modernist villa by Barcelo Baumann Architekten makes a powerful statement through material restraint. Japanese and South American influences come together in a design defined by strong horizontal lines, layered volumes and a carefully composed palette of black, brown and grey. Lukas Galantay For this project, Marugame by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was selected to bring depth, texture and intensity to the façade. The deep black charred wood contrasts beautifully with the raw concrete structure, while at the same time reinforcing the architectural clarity of the building. Between the concrete bands, the Marugame boards introduce rhythm, shadow and... More

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

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

In this contemporary residential project, the architectural strength emerges from contrast. A clear, light volume appears to float above the ground floor, while the dark timber façade beneath anchors the building within its green surroundings. The combination of clean lines, deep overhangs and vertical façade rhythm gives the residence a distinct, almost sculptural presence. Caption For the façade, Shodoshima by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was selected: charred and brushed Douglas fir with a deep black appearance and a rich, tactile surface. The controlled charring process gives the wood its characteristic texture, while brushing reveals the natural grain of the timber. The result is a façade that is neither... More