Vaulted Cork Pavillion

The Vaulted Cork Pavillion was developed by Pedro de Azambuja Varela, Maria João de Oliveira and Emmanuel Novo for Amorim Isolamentos to demonstrate its cork building materials at Concreta 2013, a biennial building fair held at Exponor, Porto.

This construction started out as a challenge to materialize three concepts: the possibility to span vaults with cork alone, a compound translucent cork material, and a system for radiation and acoustic optimization. All these concepts ought to be shown within the pavillion in a symbiotic relation formalized by the continuous and metamorphic shape.

Architectonic space lies within an inter-relation between inner and outer space, promoting dynamic fluxes and circulation all around the construction. The outside provides circulation and rest areas, where people can relax in benches or wavy forms. The inside is a tunnel like space that has a continuous bench and an exhibition space, where people can find shelter from the trade fair harsh noise and lights. All this was formalized as a shape that grows from the floor creating a smooth transition between the floor and vaulted roof.

Cork characteristics were a main driving force to the space conception. The floor and walls are smooth and soft, and the smell is very particular. Inside the space one has the feeling of being inside another environment, such is the effect of changing light, sound, smell and touch. The grass in the exterior – showing the possibility of using cork on living roofs – creates a symbiosis of living plants and cork bark.

Vaulted Cork Pavillion, Concreta 2013 biennial fair, Porto, Portugal
Architects: Pedro de Azambuja Varela, Maria João de Oliveira and Emmanuel Novo
Coordination: Alexandra Paio and José Pedro Sousa
Main material: Cork