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[Cork Library]
Bacon St, Natick, MA Library Design, Bio material and wall section
Blender animation study

 Studio Design Work-2025 Spring
Group Project with Emily Cai,  Pradipa(Miang) Patanakijpaibul
Advisor: Debbie Chen
In 2025, cork panels were predominantly manufactured in Spain and Portugal, where the cork oak tree has long been cultivated and processed. These panels are lightweight, thermally insulating, and naturally fire-resistant. They became increasingly sought after in the U.S., particularly in California, where wildfire resilience and sustainable building materials were becoming critical priorities.


Around the same time, a new U.S. trade policy imposed tariffs on a range of imported construction materials, including cork products from the EU. The resulting cost increases threatened to limit access to cork in the American market, despite growing demand from architects, developers, and public projects focused on environmental performance.


 In response, several European cork manufacturers began exploring ways to sustain their presence in the U.S. market. California emerged as a potential option for domestic production, not only because of its market demand, but also due to its Mediterranean-like climate, which is suitable for growing cork oak trees.


By 2030, collaborations with California-based fabrications led to the establishment of local production facilities. While cork oak trees already existed in regions such as the Central Coast and Bay Area, they had previously been planted for decorative purposes rather than industrial use. These areas are now being reconsidered for small-scale, localized cork cultivation as part of a broader effort to establish a domestic supply chain for the U.S. market. This initiative is being developed with a 2050 timeline in mind, aiming to build a resilient, climate-adapted cork production ecosystem that supports both environmental sustainability and economic resilience.


 As part of the effort to establish cork in the U.S. market, the Cork Library, located in Ojai, California, serves as a prototype project inspired by the Two Cork Houses in Catalonia. It is designed to test the suitability of cork materials in California and the broader West Coast context, where the climate closely resembles that of the Mediterranean.