March 18, 2008
The Cortiça Chaise Lounge by Daniel Michalik @ Branch The talented Brooklyn-based Daniel Michalik considers himself “part woodworker, part corksmith.” The primary focus of his work is to research and expand upon the uses of unconventional and underutilized materials. His recent work investigates the “rich potential of cork, an engaging, environmentally responsible material which is completely sustainable, recyclable and plentiful.” Michalik has upped Cortiça’s eco.status by not only using renewable cork to begin with, but also by collecting the cork from the bottle-stopper industry and recycling it, giving it a whole new life and purpose in his many beautiful and functional pieces. A non-toxic marine-grade adhesive was also used. At over 72” long, the sculptural Cortiça boasts “a balanced form, along with the pliability of the material which allows the user to rock gently from side to side or on her back with a great degree of stability. The result is a sensation of floating, weightlessness and total support.” This sounds like fun and I’d love to test drive one of these! If you’re in New York City and want to see this incredible piece in person, you’re in luck. The Cortiça is currently on view in the exhibition space of Material Connexion, though I do believe that visitors need to schedule an appointment ahead of time.

The Cortiça Chaise Lounge by Daniel Michalik @ Branch

The talented Brooklyn-based Daniel Michalik considers himself “part woodworker, part corksmith.” The primary focus of his work is to research and expand upon the uses of unconventional and underutilized materials. His recent work investigates the “rich potential of cork, an engaging, environmentally responsible material which is completely sustainable, recyclable and plentiful.”

Michalik has upped Cortiça’s eco.status by not only using renewable cork to begin with, but also by collecting the cork from the bottle-stopper industry and recycling it, giving it a whole new life and purpose in his many beautiful and functional pieces. A non-toxic marine-grade adhesive was also used.

At over 72” long, the sculptural Cortiça boasts “a balanced form, along with the pliability of the material which allows the user to rock gently from side to side or on her back with a great degree of stability. The result is a sensation of floating, weightlessness and total support.” This sounds like fun and I’d love to test drive one of these!

If you’re in New York City and want to see this incredible piece in person, you’re in luck. The Cortiça is currently on view in the exhibition space of Material Connexion, though I do believe that visitors need to schedule an appointment ahead of time.