Behind the design trend: Shou Sugi Ban
Have you ever wondered where the design trend of vertical cladding using burnt or charred timber originated from? Why did it become so popular? Have modern interpretations of the trend strayed too far from the original?
THE ORIGIN of this trend comes from japan where traditional builders have for years burnt the top layer of Japanese cedar or Japanese red cedar. Walking around my wife’s village on the outskirts of Okayama most buildings use this type of cladding.
Why did it become popular among the Japanese?
BURNING the outer face of the timber closes the cells of the timber which makes it more resistant to termites, more resistant to fire (If you’ve ever tried to rekindle a campfire using burnt logs, you get the idea.) and effectively extending the longevity of the cladding to last up to 80 years.
How did it become popular among architects?
ALTHOUGH THESE practical aspects appeal to contemporary builders, the deeper roots of the trend no doubt lie in our current collective hunger for all things artisanal — for creations that aren’t sleek and mass-produced but contain the visible, sometimes-raw, but always original touch of the human hand. Like industrial lighting or reclaimed wood, shou sugi ban has a certain rustic, homemade appeal. The desire for this aesthetic has led, over the past decade, to a general return to treating materials in traditional ways and, more specifically, to an adoption of principles that have long been fundamental to Japanese architecture: simplicity, the use of natural materials and a sensitivity to the surrounding environment.
Have modern adaptions of the trend strayed too far from the original?
AS WITH many design trends that get copied and copied many trends lose the authenticity of the original design concept like a bad photocopy.
Today you will see people trying to achieve the aesthetic of shou sugi ban with aluminium and fibre cement cladding.
The traditional detail was similar to a ship lap cladding where the carpenter would use a smaller piece of timber to seal the cladding.
La Roche emerges from a hillside in Montreal. Photo by Adrien Williams via Dezeen
Will I still be thermally comfortable in my home if it is clad in shou sugi ban?
All designers know that black attracts and retains heat better than any other colour.
Therefore the use of shou sugi ban in hot dry climates should be carefully considered to avoid heat issues for the occupants.
Siting of the building within the solar context of the site, review of the overshadowing elements, vegetation, climate and localized winds should all be considered before specifying Shou Sugi Ban.
Want to know if it is well suited to your climate? Reach out to us to have your questions answered.