In the Netherlands, a house called Silky Black House by Joris Verhoeven Architectuur was built to be carbon negative, aiming to be zero energy. The black home is named after its Shou Sugi Ban charred wood exterior, which is an ancient Japanese burning technique for protecting wood. The charred facades lend this house a silky shine.

The Silky Black House sits in a rural area, designed to reflect the style of black barns in this Netherlands area. The burning technique used on the exterior wood makes the exterior sustainable and low maintenance. Additionally, burning creates a layer of carbon over the exterior of the wood to protect against moisture and mold.

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Secondly, the Silky Black House is oriented toward the position of the sun. The house is comprised of an asymmetrical sculptural form that plays with alternating mass and openness. The minimalist style throughout the house enhances and provides brightness.

Furthermore, the house is heated via geothermal and solar panels on a flat, high roof. The glazed façade on the south side of the home provides passive solar heat in the winter. The home has a timber frame and built in a flexible layout, allowing the master suite to be located on the main floor in the future. Individual spaces are connected in an open layout with as few doors as possible. Overall, it’s a simple way to build such an elegant, sustainable home. It serves as a model for other building projects that aim to save on materials, energy and cost.

Moreover, the house is a prefabricated construction and sustainably-made out of wooden pallets filled with flax insulation. Birch plywood was used for decorative finish. The structural elements also serve as finish, helping with durability and cost.

Minimal material waste, use of water and transport, along with prefab and bio-based building materials, equals a CO2 negative footprint for the home. The house will also be energy neutral in operation after construction.

Images via John van Groenedaal

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In the Netherlands, a house called Silky Black House by Joris Verhoeven Architectuur was built to be carbon negative, aiming to be zero energy.

The black home is named after its Shou Sugi Ban charred wood exterior, which is an ancient Japanese burning technique for protecting wood.

The Silky Black House sits in a rural area, designed to reflect the style of black barns in this Netherlands area.

Furthermore, the house is heated via geothermal and solar panels on a flat, high roof.

Moreover, the house is a prefabricated construction and sustainably-made out of wooden pallets filled with flax insulation.

The house will also be energy neutral in operation after construction.