Cork Extension
Light, space, careful detailing, and natural materials were the main ingredients in crafting a bright, spacious, contemporary, and healthy living environment. The volume of the extension was predetermined by what we could build without a permit. Having a predetermined volume shifted focus to designing and building with natural materials.
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The walls are built using wood, flax, and cork. These materials are joined mechanically and without the use of adhesives. The whole structure is not only load-bearing and insulating, it also regulates moisture and maintains a stable interior climate that ensures the right humidity throughout the year. [For the techies amongst us: there are no (plastic) vapour barriers and the entire composition of the walls is capillary active.]
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Wood and cork are a joy to touch and work with. If they ever become redundant they can be removed intact and re-used without any kind of down-cycling. If no one wants them, they can be sorted and recycled into new products. If people have decided they don’t need any more products, the materials can be returned to nature and its processes.
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The ceiling of the extension is over 3 meters high. This lofty ceiling was a key quality of the original house and the height is exaggerated by exposing the original wooden beams. The structure of the extension and the added metal beams create a tectonic play that is appealing because it helps us understand how it was made.
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The transition between the existing building and the extension is marked by a giant skylight. Even on a cloudy or rainy day the entire space is bright, making it a joy to lay on the sofa and watch the clouds passing overhead.
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The skylight is directly placed on what used to be the exterior wall. Leaving the old bricks visible is a characteristic that reminds us of what ones was. Even the old door-openings can be traced. The wooden supports of the gutter are kept as a support for lamps and plants.
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Giant doors to the pantry maintain easy access to the garden. To insulate the doors they’re cladded with expanded cork. Aesthetically this makes them almost disappear in the façade.
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A generous sliding door is the only visible opening in the façade. It allows the inhabitants to enjoy a view on the church tower. On sunny days it creates a smooth connection between the living room and garden, ideal for children and family life.
