check @ Vaulted Cork Pavillion by Pedro de Azambuja Varela, Maria João de Oliveira and Emmanuel Novo | Amorim Isolamentos
The Vaulted Cork Pavillion was built for Amorim Isolamentos Lda., to demonstrate its
cork building materials at Concreta 2013, a biennial building fair held at Exponor,
Porto.
This architecture and research project was developed by Pedro de Azambuja Varela,
Maria João de Oliveira and Emmanuel Novo, who were sponsored by Amorim
Isolamentos Lda. while studying in the Digital Architecture Advanced Studies Course
(CEAAD), a joint venture between ISCTE-IULisboa and FAUPorto. All the fabrication
was carried out at VFABLAB-IUL, and the coordination was carried out by Professors
Alexandra Paio and José Pedro Sousa.
This construction started out as challenge to materialize concepts and investigation
developed within CEAAD 2012/2013, all related with expanded cork agglomerate.
These concepts are: 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.
After a starting phase of brainstorming, an algorithm was created to test different
variations of the form in a parametric level, with many variables responsible for
curvatures and dimensions. Once the shape was agreed upon, another algorithm
was crafted to automatically create the geometry of the hundreds of unique blocks
that were to be CNC cut at the VFABLAB.
All the blocks were labelled with a meaningful system, easing the work of the Amorim
Isolamentos Lda. team while assembling the various pieces.
Tech/Fact Sheet
Name of the project: Vaulted Cork Pavillion
Architecture: Pedro de Azambuja Varela, Maria João de Oliveira and Emmanuel
Novo
Coordination: Alexandra Paio and José Pedro Sousa
Location: Concreta 2013 biennial fair, Porto – Portugal
Main material: Cork
Sponsor: Amorim Isolamentos Lda
Photography: Joao Morgado – Architecture Photography
