I was looking through all the amazing ways the folks at the Phoenix Commotion are reusing junk to build artful homes in Texas. This technique jumped out at me as an especially clever and beautiful way of reusing what is normally discarded as trash. This is a wine bottle cork floor. Each cork is carefully nailed to the floor in an organic pattern.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Phoenix Commotion this is what they say about themselves:
The Phoenix Commotion is a local building initiative created to prove that constructing homes with recycled and salvaged materials has viable place in the building industry. This process uses only apprentice labor and teaches marketable skills to anyone with a work ethic who is willing to swing a hammer. By keeping labor costs low and using donated or found materials, the homes created are truly affordable. No two are alike due to the myriad of materials used, so there is an artistic element that makes Phoenix Commotion homes truly unique. We target single parents, artists, and families with low incomes. We require the homeowner to be involved with the planning and construction of their own home. The result is a person who is empowered, not only by the use of knowledge and building skills, but by the opportunity to become part of a community as a vested participant.
They offer some building workshops and tours if you want to get a first hand look at how discarded junk can be turned into beautiful small homes. You can also learn more about them from more videos below:
Very impressive Dan. I hope your approach to home building will spread. You embody everything positive about the home owner/builder ideals.
Thank you for this story Michael.
Cork contains a lot of air so its a great insulator and energy saver.
However you have to drink a lot of wine to get your floor covered this way.
Can you publish instructions for installing the wine cork floor?