Yakisugi

Traditional houses in Naoshima, Kagawa clad with yakisugi panels
Close-up view of charred yakisugi board

Yakisugi (焼杉) is a traditional Japanese method of wood preservation. Yaki means to heat with fire, and sugi is cypress.[1] It is also referred to in the West as shō sugi ban (焼杉板),[2] which uses the same kanji characters but a different pronunciation. The ban character means "plank".

By slightly charring the surface of the wood without combusting the whole piece, the wood becomes water-proof through the carbonisation and is thus more durable.[3] It also protects against insects.

Contemporary architect Terunobu Fujimori works with yakisugi.[4][5]

References

Yakisugi treated wood used in a box for sunglasses
  1. ↑ The Latest Design Trend: Black and Burned Wood AMANDA FORTINI, New York Times, September 19, 2017
  2. ↑ shousugiban.com
  3. ↑ charredwood.com
  4. ↑ Yakisugi House by Terunobu Fujimori Megan Wilton, Dezeen, 11 March 2009, Photograph: Edmund Sumner
  5. ↑ Interiors: A Japanese charred-timber house inspired by a cave dwelling Yuki Sumner, The Telegraph, 28 August 2009

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