RIBA Awards 2019: Cork House

• Watch the full feature by Stacey Poole below:

This is the second in our series which looks inside some of the most experimental and creative homes in the ITV Meridian region.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) prize is given to buildings that go beyond architecture and offer something unique. The four buildings featured in our pieces are among several showcased in the RIBA Regional Awards 2019.

Cork House has been awarded the Stephen Lawrence prize, one of the biggest in architecture, as well as the RIBA prize.

Hidden in the heart of Eton, overlooked by the grand college buildings, Cork House is, as the name suggests, made entirely from cork from top to bottom, inside and out.

It offers a unique solution to modern living.

The blocks, which make up the building, were invented by the architect and owner Matthew Barnett Howland.

A wood burner is the only form of heating in the building due to the thick cork walls which offer solid insulation.

Cork House has also been put forward for the Sterling prize, the highest accolade in architecture.

Small and simple is at the heart of this design but the main focus is the environmental impact.

This house is embodied carbon negative, which means no carbon dioxide was emitted during the manufacture, construction and transportation of materials.

The owners, Matthew and Dido are determined to show we can dramatically reduce our carbon consumption.