Shou-Sugi-Ban - the swing is on fire!
Origins in Japan
This process is not new. More specifically, it was already used in ancient times to preserve wood and protect it from rot and insects. The special Shou Sugi Ban technique has its origins in centuries-old Japanese traditions. For some time now, we at HUTSCHN have been studying the Shou-Sugi-Ban technique, which in Japan itself is called Yakisugi.
Additional conservation
The controlled charring of the outer layer also preserves the oak of our HUTSCHN, as the charcoal provides natural protection against fungi and bugs. Already during excavations of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, evidence was confirmed that the swampy subsoil had been fortified with charcoal before construction began. And the Roman architect Vitruvius also described the use of charred oak piles when building a house in the first century B.C. Yakisugi and Shou Sugi Ban Refer to the same traditional Japanese technique of charring wood (Yaki means grilled, flamed). In particular, Sugi — Japanese cedar — used while pine, larch and other types of wood are also subjected to the process in Europe. On the Japanese island of Naoshima, the technology is still traditionally used today in house construction, and Naoshima's inhabitants state that a Shou-Sugi-Ban-Façade withstands periods of 40-80 years without post-treatment.
dexterity
The softer annual rings are burned out more than the harder ones. The result is a surface with a unique, archaic feel. Bringing the inner beauty of wood to light takes time and patience. Each stage of charcoal requires attention and dexterity, as too much heat would damage the wood.
