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

Yakisugi

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about yakisugi

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 • Parks

limburgHUIS in GaiaZOO

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

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Private 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 Ban • Private Houses

French villa by the river Le Clain

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

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Private Houses

A modernist villa shaped by material contrast

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

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

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 More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Offices

Circular office building GMB Ijhorst

For the new GMB office building in IJhorst, the starting point was clear: a future-proof design with a high degree of circularity and conscious material use. The application of Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban’s Yoroi façade cladding aligns with this ambition, both aesthetically and technically. Circular office building with a biobased coreDue to GMB’s growth, the existing location no longer met its needs. The new office comprises 870 m², distributed over two floors, and was designed with a minimum GPR score (Dutch sustainability assessment tool) of 8.0 as a baseline, indicating a high sustainability performance. The primary structure and floors are executed in CLT, with façades in timber frame construction. The bu... More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Exhibition Centres

Cultural centre Teilhard de Chardin

An innovative 1,600 m2 architectural building organised into three main functions: cultural, religious and residential. Designed by the architect Duthilleul, the building uses innovative technologies to ensure harmony between the city and nature, respect for the environment and creativity, and fidelity to the ideas of Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Didier Boy de la Tour Didier Boy de la Tour Didier Boy de la Tour The structure is made of wood and the facades are made of glass and burnt wood Marugame. The chapel has a wooden structure with a filling of lime and hemp and is covered with a plaster of raw earth. Didier Boy de la Tour Didier Boy de la Tour More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Shops

CO2 neutral Lidl supermarket

Lidl Zero Almere is entirely made of sustainable and circular materials. So is the entire facade of this supermarket! It’s is made of our charred product Marugame. The vertical Marugame boards give the building a silvery glow when the sun shines and at the same time the façade gets a characteristic look because of the texture of the charred layer.  Anahí Clemens Sustainability is so important to us, so it is fantastic to be part of the first energy and CO2 neutral supermarket ”Lidl Zero Almere”! Anahí Clemens Anahí Clemens More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Offices

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 Ban • Apartments

Mooijburg Amsterdam

Sustainable CLT apartments by Mooijburg Amsterdam designed by Natrufied Architecture. We are extremely happy that our fire class B product Yoroi is being used for the facade cladding! Marcel van den Burg More

Project • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Highways

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 Zwarthout l Shou Sugi Ban • Fire stations

Fire station Wegberg

The new fire station for Wegberg has a wooden construction and Marugame cladding thanks to the design of Scheidt Kasprusch Architekten! The reasons for a wooden construction are because of its beauty, sustainability and energy efficiency. Constantin Meyer Fotografie Designed as a passive house, the fire station focuses on the sustainable use of materials and resources. A high ecological standard is ensured by reusable and recyclable building materials and energy-optimised equipment. Constantin Meyer Fotografie Finally, economic quality is largely ensured by low-maintenance components and materials, including the Marugame cladding. Constantin Meyer Fotografie More