Tired of flimsy umbrellas that don’t really keep you dry? Pelcor’s new cork skin umbrellas are expertly crafted to last.

Most umbrellas are flimsy affairs, with frames made of aluminum and nylon canopies. They’re supposed to be treated with an acrylic coating on the underside and a scotch-guard type finish on the top, but I’ve definitely had umbrellas become soaked and then leak after about 5 minutes in a strong rain.

Pelcor is a Portuguese company looking to upgrade the umbrella’s image, with an eco-friendly twist. Their entire product line is made from cork, a sustainable material that’s found predominantly in Portugal.

The cork oak has an extremely long lifespan and is the only tree in the world whose bark regenerates itself. It takes 20 to 25 years before the first cork can be removed from a cork oak, but after that, it can be harvested every 9 years. Removing the bark without harming the tree is an extremely delicate task, requiring highly-skilled artisans that are usually paid well for their efforts.

In 2003, Sandra Correia, granddaughter of the founder of Pelcor, 30 year-old cork factory, challenged her father to think beyond the champagne stopperss that had been the company’s bread and butter. She wanted to make cork feminine and fashionable. Correia envisioned creating accessories out of cork skin as a way to help sustain the cork industry and bring to market products that are both stylish and practical.

The first product she created was an umbrella, which I recently had the good fortune of being invited to test. The first thing that struck me about this Pelcor cork umbrella was the subtle but delicious scent of dry wood and the extremely smooth texture of its case. It felt light and thin, not at all like the cork boards and wine corks we’re all used to.

“After the tiradia (process of harvesting), the cork is left to dry in the meadow,” explains the Pelcor website. “Raw planks of cork are then boiled, making them more elastic and easier to flatten, after which they are sorted by thickness and quality.”

Once I removed the protective sleeve, it was time to unfurl the umbrella. For me, the action was a little stiff, but I’ve read that cork skin is a lot like leather, becoming smoother and more supple over time. The umbrella popped into place with only a little effort, revealing a lovely cappuccino-colored canopy, just the right size for protecting your head from summer showers.

It might be a little counter-intuitive, but cork is naturally impermeable, buoyant, elastic – even fire resistant. It kept me dry without any of those chemical-based waterproofing agents that grace the canopies of other umbrellas. I especially loved the curved handle, which brings to mind the classic “business man” umbrellas of the early 2oth century.

The Pelcor umbrella is available online, in two versions – tall and compact – at Pelcor’s website.  Prices range from $148 to $165.

Images: Pelcor

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Five new tracks to add to your playlist. 

Trying to keep up with the music scene? You have come to the right place. Every month we round up some of the best independent albums and tracks that you may have missed. From Portugal to Japan, for April, here are our top picks:

1. A Handsome Stranger Called Death – FOE

A Handsome Stranger Called Death by FOE

2. Spark Disco – Future Feelings

Future Feelings – Spark Disco by Future Feelings

3. Turn Groove Sounds On – möscow çlub

4. Lisbon Teeth – Work Drugs

Lisbon Teeth by Work Drugs

5. Myth – Beach House

Beach House – Myth by theartistree.fm

Image: Moscow Club

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The Grand Tour and beyond.

We’re all familiar with the rolling hills of Tuscany, the cliffs of Santorini, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But Europe is so much more than classic postcard images. As the continent’s Eastern half becomes more accessible, spots like the ports of Dubrovnik, the caves of Slovenia, and the Renaissance towns of the Czech Republic are becoming more popular as travelers venture off the traditional backpacker’s route. As everywhere, sustainable tourism practices are needed to protect this region’s intense natural beauty.

(above) Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland

Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Telc, Czech Republic

Cyprus

Bua, Sweden

Reykjavik, Iceland

Istanbul, Turkey

Mariazell, Austria

Kiev, Ukraine

Crete, Greece

St. Petersburg, Russia

The Pyrenees, Aquitaine, France

Wick, Scotland

Aalesund, Norway

Berlin, Germany

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

Capri, Italy 

Karkonosze, Poland

Postojna Cave, Slovenia

Paris, France

Margam Park, Wales, UK

Dresden, Germany

Barbarin, Spain

Berg, Austria

Florence, Italy

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Luster Kommune, Norway

Porto, Portugal

Boka Kotorska, Montenegro

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Lanzada, Spain

Castelluccio di Norcia, Italy

Moscow, Russia

Skradinski Buk, Croatia

London, England, UK

Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Santorini, Greece

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Casa Areia is completely impractical, but so very awe-inspiring. Floors made of sand?! Absolutely stunning.

This gorgeous cluster of architecture by Aires Mateus Architects is being exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale (2010). The project is located seaside in Comporta, Portugal, and boasts living room and kitchen floors composed of a nostalgic layer of local sand grains.

These gorgeous photographs by Nelson Garrido have captured the rich textures of the design – perfectly contrasting each grain of sand against crisp white furnishings and linear thatch.

Garrido shares these words about Casa Areia,

“The sand transported to the interior becomes the unifying element between internal and external worlds, making us believe we live in an extension of the natural environment. This particularity transforms the space scale and living in this house becomes more poetic and comfortable. This project, materialized in a sequence of volumes with a minimalism and traditional construction that camouflages modern technology, leaves us feeling that there is something more beyond the simplicity of things.”

Looking for a little more Venice Biennale eye candy? Check out this art installation.

(This coastal delight was spotted at Paonote Room 269 and Dezeen.)

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