Polysmiths designs "beautifully sustainable" London house featuring cork-lined living spaces

[Celerity]

https://www.dezeen.com/2022/12/04/polysmith-london-house-cork-living-spaces-residential-architecture/







Architecture studio Polysmiths used cork panels to clad internal and external surfaces at Cork House in east London, which was built using materials available during the Covid-19 lockdown. Polysmiths director Charles Wu adopted the roles of architect, client and developer for the Cork House project, which he designed as a home for himself and his partner.







Wu purchased a rectangular brownfield plot in Forest Gate in 2020 and set about producing plans for a three-bedroom house that was to be built using conventional blockwork and timber frame construction. Lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic led to a shortage of materials such as concrete, plasterboard and plywood, which became too expensive to use in the project. This prompted Wu to look for more affordable and less commonly used alternatives.







"We decided to research and opt for materials that didn't have supply chain issues and could actually enhance the building's sustainability credentials," Wu told Dezeen. The house is built using locally sourced timber and lime plaster, with cork panelling applied to the internal and external walls. This material palette gives the interior an earthy and cocooning feel.







The cork was sourced from Portuguese firm Amorim through a Welsh supplier called Mike Wye. Harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, the material is highly insulating and was treated to meet fire-proofing regulations. "I had used cork previously as cavity insulation but I hadn't really used it as a wall finish before," said Wu, adding that the material has a multi-sensory quality that brought a further dimension to the project.

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