ONDA is a permanent pavilion commissioned as part of City Cortex, an invitation-only architectural exhibition sponsored by Amorim Cork, the world’s largest cork manufacturer. Presented across multiple sites in greater Lisbon, Portugal, the exhibition opened in June 2024 and featured site-specific installations exploring the sustainable and aesthetic potential of cork as an architectural material.

CAL Collaborative’s proposal, ONDA, is located in Trafaria, a historic fishing village situated across the Tagus River from central Lisbon. As the area continues to evolve into a hub for art, tourism, and design education, the pavilion was conceived to support this transformation by serving as a focal point for community gatherings and public arts programming.

ONDA was conceived as a durable, multi-purpose pavilion that serves as both a place of respite and a platform for public engagement. Designed to accommodate community gatherings and events, the structure is defined by two primary elements: an undulating cork canopy, suspended from a simple steel tube-and-cable frame, and a series of fixed cork tables that rise seamlessly from the cork-clad ground plane. Together, these elements create a functional, inviting, and visually distinctive outdoor space for the community.

The pavilion features a minimal steel structural frame with a woven cork sun-shade canopy above that protects fixed cork tables and seating below. Its undulating form draws inspiration from the iconic “Calçada Portuguesa” mosaic patterns and reflects the movement of the adjacent Tagus River, creating a strong dialogue between Portugal’s cultural heritage, the site’s distinctive landscape, and the use of locally sourced cork materials.

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