Supplying more than half the world’s corks, the Portuguese cork forests are one of the most successful examples of sustainable agro-forestry anywhere in the world.
Not only is cork itself recyclable, biodegradable and renewable, but the cork forests provide valuable habitat for a variety of animals and contribute to a mixed agrarian economy that has sustained farmers for many centuries.
Portugal’s cork forests are an example of sustainability and production worth following. Almost nothing is wasted – each part of the cork tree serves an ecological or economic purpose.
It is no wonder then that Dideia, a cutting edge design firm in Portugal saw the green potential of cork as an alternative lightweight material for construction.
The Tree House is a technical exploration of cork as a building material with a strong sustainability premise. The designers not only considered its green credentials, but also are taking full advantage of its rich thermal insulation properties. The main difference from other materials, besides being 100% free of dangerous chemicals, is that it’s not environmentally detrimental. It’s lightweight and quite portable too. The project was awarded with an honorable mention by Susdesign and a subsequent exhibition at Centro Cultural de Belém.
Feast your eyes on this delightful and lightweight sustainable cork design.
Casa da Árvore [ Cork Tree House ]
Designers: Ana Correia, Vasco Lopes, Vera Gomes and Bruno Guerreiro For Dideia
