How shou sugi ban transformed a Sentosa Cove house
Architect Pan Yi Cheng utilized the traditional Japanese shou sugi ban technique to renovate a 20-year-old bungalow in Sentosa Cove. The charred timber provides a sustainable, durable, and aesthetically cohesive exterior that withstands Singapore's tropical climate.
Why it matters
This project highlights the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern sustainable engineering in residential architecture.
Architect Pan Yi Cheng used shou sugi ban, the Japanese technique of charring timber, to transform an ageing waterfront bungalow into a calmer, more cohesive home.
The charred-timber street facade contrasts with the house’s more open, glass-lined rear facing the water. (Photo: Finbarr Fallon)
Shou sugi ban, or yakisugi , is a traditional Japanese technique in which timber is charred to help preserve exterior siding. Thought to date to the Edo period (1603–1868), the process creates a carbonised layer over the timber that can improve its resistance to moisture, insects and weathering.
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