It hasn’t been 1001 projects, but almost... Virtually ten years since the initial launch of the MATERIA collection in 2011 - which marked the beginning of an ambitious strategy to place cork in the spotlight in the architecture and design world - Corticeira Amorim (CA) has analysed 979 projects, in partnership with leading national and international institutions, artists and brands.
Cristina Amorim, Corticeira Amorim’s CFO, who is one of the main driving forces behind this strategy, recalls the importance of this pioneering project: “In partnership with Experimenta Design, we selected 10 leading designers who conceived cork-based objects for the MATERIA collection, that were produced with great expertise and perfection. The collection highlighted cork’s properties, quality and tremendous creative potential, and aroused renewed interest and a fresh perception of this incredible raw material. We haven’t looked back since. There are no limits to creativity or cork.”
Under Corticeira Amorim’s leadership, cork has gradually gained space and prominence in key initiatives in the global design and architecture agenda. Examples include projects such as the Serpentine Summer Pavilion 2012, Metamorphosis, Quiet Motion by Bourroulec for BMWi, various participations in the London Design Festival, the Istanbul Biennial Design, and the Hyundai Commission at the Tate Gallery Turbine Hall, among many other events.
Over the past decade, Corticeira Amorim’s strategy and commitment has attracted thousands of relevant stakeholders in these fields, including institutions such as the Vitra Design Museum and the V&A Museum, major brands such as Timberland, Google and IKEA, specialised media such as Wallpaper magazine and leading industry names such as Jasper Morrison, Lars Beller, Tom Dixon, Nacho Carbonel and Joana Vasconcelos. There is an endless list of cork enthusiasts who often present us with new and daring challenges.
In addition to its creative projects, Corticeira Amorim has also devoted special attention to expanding knowledge of cork within this community - of today and the future – through organisation and participation in various training initiatives and workshops, in partnership with institutions such as the Domaine de Boisbuchet , the Royal College of Art and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). The company has also produced several publications, such as the books, “Metamorphosis”, “Amorim: The Future is Our Present” and “The Cork Book”. The latter won several international design awards, including an honorable mention in the Compasso d’Oro.
In 2020, several initiatives had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the Venice Biennale of Architecture and the Serpentine Summer Pavilion, whose next editions will receive sponsorship support from Corticeira Amorim and will ensure a prominent place for cork. We hope that these and many other projects will finally see the light of day in 2021.
