We landed at Tokyo Narita earlier this summer on a cloudy Monday afternoon, legs sore from our ten-hour direct flight from Portland. It was my first experience in Japan, and I was…
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Japanese Influence On Western Architecture Part 2: The Early Craftsmen Movement
During the transition out of the 19th century (esp 1890-1910) and into modernity, Western architects started implementing Japanese architectural details and thought in order to further their inspired vision. At the time,…
Japanese Influence On Western Architecture Part 1: The Early Period (Pre-Edo To Craftsmen Movement)
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Japan, one of the first major differences that you might have noticed is the architecture. Cities such as Tokyo and Osaka that were levelled…
“Yakisugi” Or “Shou Sugi Ban”? Learn What You Should Call It, And Why
Learn more about the linguistic background and why there is so much confusion between “Yakisugi” and “Shou Sugi Ban” in North America and Europe. When we started researching the North American and…
Earlywood Vs Latewood And Growth Ring Patterns In Yakisugi
Growth Rings in Yakisugi “shou sugi ban” Cypress Siding Growth ring patterns are critical to both yakisugi “shou sugi ban” appearance and, more than most people realize, wood longevity. Anyone considering wood siding is…
What Is A Rainscreen & How Do You Install A Rainscreen
Other than higher cost over what we consider snake-oil exterior siding products (cement-board, vinyl, aluminium), the biggest problem with wood siding is the potential for mold growth and rot. Rot, mold, and…
The Feng Shui Of Shou Sugi Ban
Feng Shui is a Chinese term for a tradition followed across Northeast Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. In Japanese it is pronounced “fu-sui”, but the Chinese “feng shui” is generally used in…
The Science Behind Flame Retardancy Of Shou Sugi Ban/Yakisugi
Over the past 10 years yakisugi (or shou sugi ban) has been rapidly gaining popularity in the West, not only for its beauty and longevity in exterior applications, but also for its reputation of…