Recycled cork adopted at KURKKU FIELDS Underground Library

TOKYO CORK PROJECT, spearheaded by GOOD DEAL COMPANY, sets an example of how discarded materials can be repurposed. Restaurants and retail stores in Tokyo contribute to this initiative by providing discarded cork stoppers, which are then recycled and transformed into regenerated cork material. This material has now been integrated into the Underground Library of KURKKU FIELDS.

KURKKU FIELDS, situated in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, serves as a melting pot for people, agriculture, food, and art. Concealed beneath the soil lies the enchanting Underground Library, reminiscent of a cave nestled among verdant trees and plants. Here, the pursuit of knowledge and the growth of imagination flourish alongside the very microbes that support the ecosystem. The library’s collection is diverse, encompassing subjects from nature and agriculture to poetry, philosophy, history, religion, science, and economics. Architect Takashi Nakamura of NAP Architects and curator Yohei Kawakami of “book pick orchestra” have collaborated to create this unique space.

As visitors traverse the library’s bookshelves, they encounter a softly lit hall where domed walls are adorned with books. This captivating space, designed for storytelling, features regenerated cork material from the TOKYO CORK PROJECT in the form of benches and stairs. The versatile cork also serves as corner guards for the bookshelves, ensuring safety. With its numerous functional properties, such as insulation, soundproofing, water resistance, elasticity, lightweight, and electrical insulation, cork holds immense potential as a natural alternative to petroleum-based materials like urethane and rubber.

The TOKYO CORK PROJECT aspires to build an exclusive recycling network that discovers untapped materials in large consumption cities, giving companies the opportunity to choose eco-friendly alternatives. By promoting the careful circulation of valuable resources, the project envisions a society that acknowledges the significance of sustainable practices.