Seven buildings wrapped in cork
Cork cladding is a renewable, resistant and insulating material that is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree. Here are seven buildings clad in the increasingly popular building material.
Elevated within a salt marsh on England's east coast, this cabin was developed by British architect Lisa Shell for an artist that wanted a peaceful place to work.
Cork panels wrap its exterior surfaces, forming a protective skin that shields the building from salty winds, and resembles the plumage of a redshank bird after which the building is named.
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The Cork Studio by Studio Bark
Made almost entirely out of cork, this building prototype was developed by London-based Studio Bark to challenge the architecture industry's dependence on "unhealthy single-use materials".
It is water and fire resistant, and every component can be completely disassembled, recycled, reused or composted at the end of its useful life.
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Casa Bonjardim by ATKA Arquitectos
This house in Portugal was remodelled and extended by ATKA Arquitectos for a couple that wanted space to work at home.
It features a protruding master bedroom at its rear, which is wrapped in cork cladding to shield it from the noise of a nearby school playground and provide thermal insulation.
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Cork Screw House by Rundzwei Architekten
Rectangular-shaped panels made from waste cork from the wine industry were used to create the "monolithic", thermally efficient skin of this house in Berlin.
Rundzwei Architekten's decision to use the material was the result of its search for a product with a high acoustic performance, which also led it to discover the environmental benefits of cork.
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Occupying a large proportion of a London house's back garden, this outside study by Surman Weston was encased in untreated cork to create a "natural earthy" aesthetic that would help it nestle into its surroundings.
Teamed with a wild-flower roof, it also provides weatherproofing, acoustic and thermal insulation for the cubic volume.
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Ecork Hotel by José Carlos Cruz
José Carlos Cruz used cork across the external walls of this hotel in Portugal to promote both the environmental benefits of the material and its availability in the country.
The hotel only has a few small openings in its exterior walls, which creates a striking, uninterrupted facade, while also maximising its thermal performance.
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The Hill Cork House by Contaminar Arquitectos
Cork cladding envelops the concrete structure of this house in Portugal, which features a large protruding swimming pool.
Beyond providing effective thermal insulation, the material was chosen by Contaminar Arquitectos for its "sensorial properties" and "earth tones" that would help the house become part of nature.
Find out more about The Hill Cork House ›