Charred timber has emerged as a fashionable choice for cladding Charred or blackened timber has emerged as a fashionable choice for cladding, especially for contemporary reimaginings of cabins and nature retreats. Below are seven sleek examples that use Shou Sugi Ban and other similar techniques to add a dark and unexpected dimension to otherwise simple, minimalist architectural designs.
1. An Australian refuge for a homeowner with a sleep disorder

Photo via Dezeen

Melbourne-based firm Black Line One X Architecture Studio (aka BLOXAS) designed the Garden Pavilion for a client who suffers from a sleep disorder, creating a peaceful retreat that offers protection from excess noise and even light. A curved, blackened timber facade no doubt contributes to the calming effects of the modern home. 2. La Roche is a hillside aerie in Quebec

Darkened timber also has a way of making a home appear one with the surrounding landscape, as is the case with La Roche, or, the Rock, a flat, boxy home designed by Montreal-based architecture firm Atelier Général that perches on a sloping hillside and features a construction of wood and glass.
3. A burnt timber facade remixes a contemporary take on a cottage

Photo by Tim van de Velde via Chris Collaris

Shou Sugi Ban-treated pinewood clads this contemporary take on a cottage north of Amsterdam, where local firm Chris Collaris Architects remixed a traditional gable-...