Cross Cabin USA: Transforming Architecture Design with Amorim MD Facade®
Redefining Sustainable Architecture with Amorim MD Facade®
Case StudiesIn Austin, Texas, Moontower Design-Build has completed the Cross Cabin, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom studio designed to reimagine the way homes are built in a climate-conscious world. Developed through years of research and collaboration, the Cross Cabin demonstrates that modern housing can be both functional and carbon neutral.
This innovative project integrates Amorim MD Facade® on both the exterior and interior, delivering unmatched thermal and acoustic insulation. Inspired by biophilic design, this studio merges functionality and beauty, offering a glimpse into how homes of the future can balance resilience, sustainability, and comfort.
Expanded Cork
The use of expanded cork is central to the project. Beyond its exceptional thermal and acoustic performance, cork creates a healthier indoor environment, free of toxins and synthetic additives. Builders reported that even during construction the material "felt different", reinforcing its organic connection to nature.
As Greg Esparza, Moontower co-founder and the project’s R&D lead, explains, when he began designing the project, he first sought to consider the carbon impact of materials and discovered expanded cork as a unique option that could serve both as high-performance continuous insulation and as a naturally weathering exterior cladding.
“Cork was perfect for the environmental goals of the project, but the biggest surprise was the beguiling natural beauty of the MD Facade® in person”
Esparza adds that the dynamic color and texture of the cork, and even its subtle natural scent, create a completely unique sensory experience of the architecture. As the installation progressed, the team recognized the aesthetic and tactile potential of the material, expanding its use beyond insulation to include feature walls, window frames, shower finishes, and custom exterior details.
Cork and wood: a natural dialogue redefining sustainable living
The result is an elegant interplay between the project’s two primary natural materials, cork bark and wood, which became the narrative thread of the design. By pairing these plant-based materials with cross-laminated timber (CLT), the Cross Cabin demonstrates how low-carbon, renewable solutions can replace conventional, carbon-intensive methods without sacrificing comfort, durability, or beauty.
For Moontower, the Cross Cabin is not just a home but a blueprint for the future. “Cross Cabin is proof that a zero-emissions future is possible,” says Esparza. “Thermally modified cork is essential to this achievement, offering durability, performance, and a sensory connection to nature that conventional materials can’t provide.”
Credits
Architect and builder: Moontower Design Build (Project Team: Greg Esparza, Frank Farkash, Hanna Johns, Leland Crosby, Jessica Cain, Jessica Painter)
Year: 2024
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Photography: Daniel Cavazos and Casey Woods
Materials supplier/consultant: Cross Cabin Supply
Exterior Cladding: Amorim MD Facade®