''Yakisugi'' (, ) is a traditional, very old

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

method of

wood preservation Wood preservation refers to any method or process, or even technique, used to protect the wood and extend its service life. Most wood species are susceptible to both biological (''biotic'') and non-biological (''abiotic'') factors that cause d ...

. It is also referred to as , a term which uses the same ''

kanji are logographic Chinese characters, adapted from Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script, used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are ...

'' characters, but an alternative pronunciation. The ''ban'' character means "

plank Plank or The Plank may refer to: *Plank (wood), flat, elongated, and rectangular timber with parallel faces *Plank (exercise), an isometric exercise for the abdominal muscles Arts and entertainment * ''The Plank'' (1967 film), a British comedy s ...

". In the West it is known as burnt timber cladding. This old technique has several similarities with the modern thermal wood modification methods used in Europe and elsewhere. By slightly

charring Charring is a chemical process of incomplete combustion of certain solids when subjected to high heat. Heat distillation removes water vapour and volatile organic compounds (syngas) from the matrix. The residual black carbon material is Char (chemi ...

the surface of the wood without combusting the whole piece, the surface becomes water-resistant through the carbonization and at the same time its

hygroscopy Hygroscopy is the phenomenon of attracting and holding water molecules via either absorption or adsorption from the surrounding environment, which is usually at normal or room temperature. If water molecules become suspended among the substanc ...

is decreased due to chemical cell-changing process during carbonization, which results in increased durability. It additionally protects the wood against insects, fungi and mold, as well as making the wood a rather fire-resistant material. However, some studies have shown that a mere charring of the surface does not improve durability or fire resistance. It also doesn't make the wood waterproof. An OKOPOD with Yakisugi cladding and a sedum roof

An OKOPOD with Yakisugi cladding and a sedum roof

Examples

Contemporary architect

Terunobu Fujimori is a Japanese architect and architectural historian. During the 1970s and 1980s he made studies of the city about early Western buildings and unusual occurrences, and did not turn to architecture until he was in his forties. His work is consid ...

works with ''yakisugi''. In addition, Japanese architect

Kengo Kuma is a Japanese architect and emeritus professor in the Department of Architecture (Graduate School of Engineering) at the University of Tokyo. Frequently compared to contemporaries Shigeru Ban and Kazuyo Sejima, Kuma is also noted for his prolif ...

uses this charred wood material in his modern creations.

References

External links

* Housing in Japan Woodworking Wood-related terminology Japanese woodwork {{japan-culture-stub