Reimagining cork
Gencork by Sofalca is where natural material meets generative design to create living, acoustic surfaces that inspire.
Chapter 1: Origins
From nature to parametric form
Gencork emerged from the synergy between digital creativity and material innovation, born through a collaboration between Sofalca, Portugal’s pioneers in expanded cork, and a new generation of computational designers. Their shared vision was to bridge the gap between technology and ecology, crafting architectural surfaces that respond to both algorithmic logic and the organic irregularity of nature.
From the bark of the cork oak to the sculpted interior wall, every Gencork piece carries centuries of Portuguese craftsmanship reinterpreted through modern design tools. It’s an intersection of code and craft, where sustainability meets artistry, and where the story of cork continues—renewed through pattern, purpose, and form.
Nature engineered through imagination
Chapter 2: Performance
Quiet design, powerful performance
At the heart of Gencork’s innovation lies expanded cork, a 100% natural material celebrated for its acoustic and thermal performance. The unique cellular structure of cork absorbs sound waves and stabilizes indoor temperature, creating interiors that feel as good as they look. Beyond function, its natural elasticity and durability make it resistant to moisture, fire, and time.
This balance of comfort and resilience turns every Gencork installation into a living buffer between the built environment and its occupants. It’s performance that doesn’t scream for attention—quiet, understated, and endlessly reliable, designed to enhance both the sensory and spatial experience.
Acoustics that breathe with the space
Chapter 3: Design
Where math meets material
Gencork’s visual language is driven by generative design—a computational process where algorithms shape the geometry and rhythm of each pattern. Developed in collaboration with digital design studio Digitalab, every configuration begins as a coded concept and evolves into a tangible surface through precise CNC milling.
The result is a three-dimensional cork panel that captures light, shadow, and movement, turning architectural walls into sculptural compositions that change throughout the day. Each piece reflects the harmony between digital innovation and natural materiality, embodying the fluid intersection of technology, craftsmanship, and design intent.
Digital precision, organic soul
Chapter 4: Versatility
Endless forms, one material
Gencork’s adaptability extends across scale, style, and setting. Whether shaping the identity of a retail space, softening the acoustics of a workplace, or adding texture to a private residence, its panels bring warmth and tactility to every project. Lightweight yet durable, the modules are easy to install and customizable, making them an elegant fit for both temporary activations and permanent architectural statements.
Designers choose Gencork not just for its performance, but for its emotional resonance—the way its natural surface invites touch, absorbs sound, and connects people to nature within built environments. Each configuration speaks a different design language, but the feeling it evokes remains constant: calm, intentional, and deeply human.
Designed to fit form, function, and feeling
Chapter 5: Responsibility
Rooted in regeneration
Every Gencork panel begins with the cork oak forests of Portugal, where harvesting the bark allows trees to live and regenerate for over two centuries. This process supports biodiversity, prevents desertification, and sustains rural communities, creating one of the most environmentally positive material cycles on earth.
In a world of excess and extraction, Gencork offers a model of circular design that gives back more than it takes. Each installation becomes part of a regenerative story—proof that technology and tradition can coexist to create architecture that sustains both space and planet.
