Tesla Showroom, Denver

This Tesla showroom in Denver, Colorado, is fronted with Kebony Clear cladding charred using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. The process superficially carbonises the timber, producing a deep black, textured surface and adding further protection to a material that is already durable in exposed conditions.

The substrate is Kebony modified wood, a softwood impregnated with a bio-based liquid that permanently improves its stability and its resistance to weathering. Combining modified wood with charring produces a dark, consistent skin whose upkeep is limited to periodic cleaning.

The choice of material extends the carmaker's position on energy and resources: the brief called for a renewable-source exterior finish with a long service life, on a commercial building highly visible from the road. The project was designed by OZ Architecture.