You wouldn't expect a boundary-pushing design exhibition to revolve around a material as pedestrian as cork. But Metamorphosis, on show at the Jerónimos monastery, near Belém west of Lisbon, is remarkably cutting-edge. The central show at Lisbon's Experimenta Biennale (EXD 13), Metamorphosis will not only do wonders for the country's reinvigorated cork industry, but will also make its mark on the world of environmentally friendly design.
Portuguese cork company Amorim enlisted ten international designers and architects for the exhibition, giving them carte blanche to create thought-provoking and innovative examples of the material's reusability, biodegradability and versatility. In testing the merits of the zero-carbon material, they devised vast new terrain for cork.
Some of the models rendered the material virtually unrecognisable. A pair of cork shoes designed by Jasper Morrison for Camper, for example, was a faithful reworking of the brand's first product from the late 1920s and yet set a new standard in durability. Meanwhile, Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena, known for developing ideas and projects in the social field, presented two ideas: his 'Soft Monoliths' showed cork as an architectural skin to increase uniformity, and his set of comfortable cork clogs, inspired by Dutch wooden clogs, reworked the shoe as a lighter, stronger, waterproof upgrade.
Among the more useful pieces were a set of door handles and a handrail designed by Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. Fellow Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza devised a nest of two cylindrical stools, ergonomically designed with impact absorption for maximum comfort. And architect Amanda Levete also developed furniture in the form of a 'Cork Kit': two modular geometric pieces that, when combined, can be used as a stool, table, small stair or a wall element with soundproofing properties.
Other architects showed the benefits of the material for construction purposes, such as Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, who presented a cork maquette of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall currently under construction in Hamburg. Another eye-catching example came courtesy of João Luís Carrilho da Graça, who is fusing cork with concrete to use in the vast new cruise-ship terminal he has designed for Lisbon. According to Graça, the symbiosis between cork and concrete is the genesis of a new, lighter, more insulating and aesthetically pleasing material.
Metamorphosis is one of a rich series of exhibitions and conferences from participants from 24 countries during EXD13, which takes the theme of 'No Borders' and runs until close to Christmas. The programme also includes a sneak preview of the new coach museum by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha and a tropical garden show, titled Unmapping the World, at the Palácio dos Condes da Calheta.
The two geometric elements.
Pritzker Prize-winner Álvaro Siza has devised a nest of two cylindrical stools, ergonomically designed with impact absorption for maximum comfort.
'Stow', is a wall-shelf with acoustic properties, exploring how cork absorbs sound. It was one of late British product designer James Irvine's last works before he died earlier this year.
Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron is presenting a maquette of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall under construction in Hamburg, which highlighted the complexity of architecture and how it can benefit from some of cork's simple properties.
Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura's doorknobs in cork.
He has created two varieties of door handle for the exhibition.
A pair of cork shoes designed by Jasper Morrison for Camper is a faithful reworking of the brand's first product from the late 1920s and yet sets a new standard in durability.
Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena, known for developing ideas and projects in the social field, presented 'Soft Monoliths', an architectural cork skin, designed to increase uniformity in building.
João Luis Carrilho da Graça is testing cork's limits as a construction material by fusing it with concrete.
According to Graça, the symbiosis between cork and concrete is the genesis of a new, lighter, more insulating and aesthetically pleasing material.
Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa has produced two highly functional benches of different heights, which take advantage of the cool smoothness of cork in its contact with the human body.
Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus collaborated with his brother Francisco Aires Mateus on a minimalist cork house - pictured in the making - that is ideal for contemplation or meditation.
ADDRESS
Mostiero do Jerónimos
Praça do Império
1400-206 Lisbon
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