residential weekend course cob building

venue: Redfield Community, Bucks

This course is run by Earthed.

The course will aim to introduce methods of earth/cob building, and will include theory and practice with short demonstrations; however, the emphasis will be on hands-on learning. You will find space for fun and creativity and expect a workout for the body and mind! Participants should leave feeling confident in their ability to start a small cob structure of their own and to make and apply an earthen plaster.

Practical sessions will cover:

• materials, where to locate them and how to test them
• mixing cob successfully by foot and using machinery; how to adapt your mixes to suit the conditions and elements in the design
• sculpting with cob; how to create free flowing forms, integrated niches and decoration
• different techniques of building and trimming walls - both freeform and using forms

Theory / design sessions will cover:

• brief introduction to the philosophy and history of cob and other natural building methods
• the practical and environmental benefits of cob building
• simple roof designs for small cob structures
• siting, foundations and drainage for small cob structures

During the weekend there will be a visual presentation of cob from around the world, from the functional to the fantastic. Magical and inspiring buildings to fire your imagination.

The build part of this course consists of a wall containing bottles, and continues until 5pm on Sunday afternoon, although of course you are free to leave after lunch if you prefer.

NB: this course doesn't cover roofing and foundations, which are covered in a separate course.

dates: see 'book online' below

more on cob building

building the cob walls of an earth oven

high-tech method of mixing cob!

plastering detail