|Digital Matter

|Cork Block

Matter | Object | Space

|Team

Anish Hatekar, Shrey Kapur and Michael Sinzinger

|Faculty

Areti Markopoulou, Nikol Kirova

|Project year

2022-23

The research Cork Block aims to broaden the domain of application for cork products in the architectural industry and further reduce their environmental impact by developing a material that is load bearing, derived from cork waste and is 100% binder free. This material catalogue is applied to a versatile system based on a cork block that is easy to assemble, disassemble and reassemble,  and allows for various geometries. These spatial configurations are presented to the user in form of an web interface informed by digital simulation and analysis.

Cork, sourced primarily from the bark of cork oak trees in the Mediterranean basin, stands out as an exceptional bio-based renewable material due to its ability to be harvested up to 15 times during the tree’s life span. This makes it an environmentally friendly building material with low ecological impact

Cork’s distinctive cellular structure and composition provide natural qualities such as lightweightness, exceptional insulation against heat and sound, waterproofing, elasticity, and durability, all while being entirely natural. By developing a modular and replicable block, the goal is to create a manufacturing process that requires minimal post-processing. This innovative approach doesn’t just aim to utilize waste; it seeks to leverage existing waste within the cork industry while also establishing a cycle to manage and repurpose waste generated by our manufacturing process.

Geometry development
Block Aggregation
Tested Samples
Tested Samples
Thermal Analysis- Positive iterations
Thermal Analysis- Positive iterations
Compression Analysis- Positive iterations
Compression Analysis- Positive iterations
Block Profiles
Block Profiles
Assembled blocks

Emphasis was placed on block pressing to reduce waste, resulting in shapes developed accordingly. Additionally, postprocessing options were explored, leading to successful repressing of blocks solely from machining waste without binders. The team also devised a design algorithm for acoustic patterns, optimizing for both sound insulation and minimizing extraction from walls, thus reducing post-processing while maintaining superior acoustic performance. A developed web interface illustrates practical implementation. It guides users—architects to beginners—through designing homes on Barcelona rooftops, densifying the city. This versatile tool accommodates different sizes, shapes, and personalized designs with acoustic patterns and surface finishes, showcasing the system’s adaptability in urban settings.

In order to showcase the potential real-world implementation of such a system, a web interface was developed.

It guides users of every background, from architectural to amateur, in a step-by-step process through our design protocol, constructing homes of various sizes on rooftop locations in Barcelona to further densify the city and make use of the developed system in an urban context.

It can adapt to all kinds of geometries and space requirements and can further personalize the design with the a for mentioned acoustic patterns, different surface finishes and material detailing.

Visualisation with components