Terunobu Fujimori's Charred Cedar House is clad in charred boards, which have been treated with an ancient Japanese technique that seals the wood, traditionally cedar, against rain and rot. The primitive and painstaking process is said to protect wood against rain, rot, and insects for 80 years. It also gives the exteriors a reptilian texture that’s as striking as it is practical—which is why a host of contemporary architects have continued the tradition, adapting it for multiple types of wood. Photo 1 of 7 in Black Beauties: 7 Modern Homes With Shou-Sugi-Ban Details by Aileen Kwun

Black Beauties: 7 Modern Homes With Shou-Sugi-Ban Details

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Terunobu Fujimori's Charred Cedar House is clad in charred boards, which have been treated with an ancient Japanese technique that seals the wood, traditionally cedar, against rain and rot. The primitive and painstaking process is said to protect wood against rain, rot, and insects for 80 years. It also gives the exteriors a reptilian texture that’s as striking as it is practical—which is why a host of contemporary architects have continued the tradition, adapting it for multiple types of wood.