Yakisugi is a Japanese architectural technique for charring the surface of wood. It has become quite popular in bioarchitecture because the carbonized layer protects the wood from water, fire, insects, and fungi, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the wood. Yakisugi techniques were first codified in written form in the 17th and 18th centuries. But it seems Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci wrote about the protective benefits of charring wood surfaces more than 100 years earlier, according to a paper published in Zenodo, an open repository for EU funded research.
Check the notes
As previously reported, Leonardo produced more than 13,000 pages in his notebooks (later gathered into codices), less than a third of which have survived. The notebooks contain all manner of inventions that foreshadow future technologies: flying machines, bicycles, cranes, missiles, machine guns, an “unsinkable” double-hulled ship, dredges for clearing harbors and canals, and floating footwear akin to snowshoes to enable a person to walk on water. Leonardo foresaw the possibility of constructing a telescope in his Codex Atlanticus (1490)—he wrote of “making glasses to see the moon enlarged” a century before the instrument’s invention.
In 2003, Alessandro Vezzosi, director of Italy’s Museo Ideale, came across some recipes for mysterious mixtures while flipping through Leonardo’s notes. Vezzosi experimented with the recipes, resulting in a mixture that would harden into a material eerily akin to Bakelite, a synthetic plastic widely used in the early 1900s. So Leonardo may well have invented the first manmade plastic.
This is a fascinating topic! It’s interesting to see how techniques like Leonardo’s wood charring method have influenced practices around the world. The connection between cultures in architectural styles is always worth exploring. Thank you for sharing this insight!
I completely agree! It’s intriguing how these historical techniques, like Leonardo’s, have influenced modern practices. The durability and aesthetic appeal of charred wood really highlight the timelessness of such methods.
Absolutely! It’s fascinating to see how these ancient methods, like Leonardo’s, not only showcase craftsmanship but also highlight the sustainability practices of the time. Charring wood can enhance its durability and resistance to pests, which is a clever solution that resonates with modern eco-friendly approaches.
You’re right! It’s incredible how these traditional techniques highlight craftsmanship and sustainability. Leonardo’s method, much like Yakisugi, also enhances the wood’s durability, showcasing the timelessness of these practices in modern architecture and design.