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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Façades give the first impression of a structure, reflecting the overall aesthetic appeal, archi-
tectural styles, cultural influences, and technological advancements. Emphasis on sustainability is
increasing, with a shift towards eco-friendly and energy-saving materials, triggered by decreasing the
environmental impact of construction. Cork is a green competitive material for various engineering
and design applications due to its biological formation, sustainable production and a portfolio of
properties including low density, impermeability, viscoelastic behaviour and high thermal insulation
that derive from its cellular and chemical features. This work presents cork materials used in build-
ing façades and their properties, also giving information on cork production and processing into
cork-based products as a review of the existing published research, while also identifying knowledge
gaps and further research needed. Historical examples of cladding of constructions with raw cork
are given, while the contemporary innovative use of cork façades was triggered by some designs
of well-known architects with outdoor application of expanded cork agglomerates. Examples of
different historical and contemporary constructions were assembled and critically assessed by the
authors. The aim is to give integrated information of cork as a natural, renewable and sustainable
material to raise the interest of designers, architects and engineers to explore cork, blending aesthetics
with environmental responsibility, targeting a more sustainable and resilient built environment.
Description
Keywords
building expanded corkboards construction agglomerated cork cork composites
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Miranda, I.; Pereira, H. Cork Façades as an Innovative and Sustainable Approach in Architecture: A Review of Cork Materials, Properties and Case Studies. Materials 2024, 17, 4414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174414
Publisher
MDPI