CORKBUILD – Expanded Corkboard Parametric Building System 2015

15/08/2015 by João Sousa in Architecture

This work intended to explore the application of expanded insulation corkboard (ICB) and wood (OSB) in a building system digitally designed and produced, bringing numerous advantages related to its adaptability, customization and optimization. The expanded corkboard is used as insulation and exterior finishing material attached to a timber WikiHouse structure, along with waterproofing solutions. The result is a total constructive solution, thermally optimized, customizable at the level of its overall dimensions and appearance.

There was developed a new system to optimize the insulation and waterproofing of the corkboards, using Geco on Grasshopper and Ecotect softwares. This system can be applied in a parametric definition to generate WikiHouse structures using Grasshopper. The parametric solution aimed for the user to generate a ‘CorkHouse’, using the WikiHouse concept and with the proposed CorkBuild system. The user can also choose a geometric definition for superficial exterior texture generation therefore customizing the external appearance of a CorkHouse. The proposed building system is thought to be entirely produced via digital fabrication. This uses industrial machines controlled by computer orders – CNC – to change the shape or properties of materials.