Could you present your firm and your latest projects?
GENCORK is a brand of cork covering solutions owned by the Sofalca Group; it explores the connections between a low-tech material and high-tech processes. We use a100% natural and sustainable expanded cork agglomerate, which is transformed through generative design algorithms and advanced digital fabrication processes. The digital process is one of most important elements of GENCORK´s DNA; adopting computational design strategies, the brand explores algorithmic scripts inspired by nature, as well as mathematics and geometry, through parametric systems. With this process, it’s now possible to produce a huge range of different variations of patterns, adapting them to any size or form.
This creative and disruptive system not only optimizes cork’s thermal and acoustic properties, but also adds artistic value to traditional walls.  We only use the cork of the branches (falca) for the manufacture of cork granules; a process that is 100% natural and free of additives. This technology, developed by Sofalca, consists of injecting water vapour through pellets that will expand and agglomerate with the resin of the cork itself; this process confers the resulting cork a dark colour, similar to chocolate. During the production of the steam, biomass deriving from the milling and cleaning of the falca is used, making the production truly sustainable, free of waste, with a 95% energy self-sufficiency. We consider cork to be a super-material. Indeed, in addition to being an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator it has anti-vibration properties; it really offers a huge range of advantages. We are currently working on different projects in several areas and of different scales such as: hotels, restaurants, offices and temporary architecture (stands, exhibitions, etc). Among our latest projects there are the Van der Valk Hotel Beveren in Belgium, BNP Paribas Headquarters in Lisbon, Ubisoft Headquarters in Paris and Lounge and Pitch areas for Web Summit 2016 in Lisbon.

You are participating to Maison & Objet Projets this year, which are the products and/or the innovative solutions dedicated to architects that you’ll be presenting?
This year we will present six news generative patterns and a set of products for ceilings and office furniture.

According to you, what are the future changes of your activity area and major challenges to be addressed by 2020?
Having established a market presence thanks to years of professional activity, and always using cork as an essential raw material for creating its products, the group Sofalca works daily to develop new innovation processes for its business area. When testing our products, there’s always one thing that we keep in mind: to provide natural and green market solutions. Sofalca’s productive process is both sustainable and energetically self-sufficient in 95% of its needs when using its own biomass. Apart from being a business, we care for the environment and about providing solutions for our clients’ lives and those of future generations by marketing a highly sustainable product. Sofalca complies with all the environmental standards and is even a certified business in terms of cork recycling. Sofalca’s goal since the beginning of its existence as a productive enterprise has been to expand its business in different areas. We want to be the best and keep on innovating. We are ready to accept the challenges set by architects, engineers, designers, builders and business owners.

For more information, visit the website.