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Sentosa Cove house gets a dramatic makeover with charred timber exterior
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Sentosa Cove house gets a dramatic makeover with charred timber exterior

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • An architect used the Japanese technique of shou sugi ban (charring timber) to renovate a Sentosa Cove house.
  • The traditional method preserves wood, making it resistant to moisture, insects, and weathering.
  • The charred Accoya timber provides a durable and aesthetically unified facade for the bungalow.

An aging bungalow in Singapore's exclusive Sentosa Cove has undergone a striking transformation, embracing a traditional Japanese technique to create a modern, resilient home. Architect Pan Yi Cheng proposed using shou sugi ban, also known as yakisugi, a centuries-old method of charring timber to enhance its durability and aesthetic appeal.

They last for decades and decades.

— Pan Yi ChengDescribing the longevity of timber treated with the shou sugi ban technique.

This process involves charring exterior siding to create a protective carbonized layer, making the wood resistant to moisture, insects, and weathering. "They last for decades and decades," stated Pan, founder of Type0 Architecture. The roughly 20-year-old house, which previously featured a mix of deteriorating materials, had its older facade stripped away, leaving only the structural elements.

There was reinforced-concrete, mixed with lot of timber that was deteriorating. We hacked those away, keeping only the structural beams and columns.

— Pan Yi ChengDetailing the initial state of the house before renovation.

Pan worked with Calvary Carpentry to clad the existing structure in panels of charred Accoya timber, engineered for enhanced durability. This application provides the house with a new, unified skin. "This entirely new architectural language is both practical and sustainable," Pan explained. The charred finish was chosen not only for its protective qualities against Singapore's tropical maritime climate but also for its restrained architectural expression.

This entirely new architectural language is both practical and sustainable.

— Pan Yi ChengHighlighting the benefits of the charred timber facade.

Initially unsure if the homeowner would accept a "black" house, Pan found his client to be more adventurous. The homeowner readily approved the charred timber, leading to a cohesive design balanced by glass, greenery, and water views. The interior features lighter tones to offset the dark exterior, with an open layout designed for entertaining. This project marks another innovative use of timber by Pan, who previously worked on Singapore's first landed residence using Mass Engineered Timber.

He’s more adventurous than I am. When we showed him the charred timber, he was okay with it.

— Pan Yi ChengRecounting the homeowner's positive reaction to the charred timber design.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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