Cornwall on the cob

AS environmental awareness grows, along with the cost of buying new homes, many people are turning to more traditional methods of restoration and house building.

For Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce, who live in Cornwall, it means a growing demand for their cob building expertise. The dedicated pair, who refer to themselves as ‘ecological builders’, have a joint passion for natural building methods, which led them to set up Cob in Cornwall‚ a building and restoration business.

"There is much more interest and awareness in homebuilding nowadays," says Katy. "With programmes like Grand Designs on television, people are thinking more about the building process, and are taking the power into their own hands, rather than settling for a basic, stock-built home."

What is cob?
The word ‘cob’ comes from an old English root word meaning a lump or rounded mass. It is a building material composed of sand, straw and sub-soil rich in clay. This is mixed, by hand on a tarpaulin or in larger quantities using machinery, to produce a moist, homogenous and malleable material. Once cob is fully dried, it becomes extremely hard, and can last for hundreds of years, as long as it has a solid stone foundation and a good roof.

Earth buildings have outstanding thermal capabilities, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Despite the industrial revolution, earth is still the most common and versatile building material in the world. It is non-toxic, non-exhaustible and will literally ‘return to the earth’ when it has served its full life.

Cob has been around for thousands of years, and can even be found in original parts of the Great Wall of China.

So what about damp problems?
"The nemesis of any cob building is excess water," she told me, "and the best way to avoid a problem is to ensure the roof and foundations are correctly built in the first place. A common error is to cover cob walls with cement - this is not recommended because water gets behind the cement and can’t evaporate, so it eventually melts the walls from within. Covering cob walls in a lime render allows moisture to evaporate before it becomes a problem."

Cob buildings in Cornwall
Alice’s Seat, at Trebah Gardens in Mawnan Smith, Cornwall, is a fine example of the beauty and versatility of cob, and was reconstructed by Katy and Adam. Actually a summer house, it dates back to the early 19th century.

There is also a beautifully sculpted potting shed at the Green Centre in Falmouth, which was built as part of a community initiative by the environmental arts group Earthed.

Another fine example of cob buildings is the visitor centre at the St Austell Eden Project. Devon-based earth architects Jackie Abey and Jill Smallcombe were called in to create a sculptural building to house the public toilets. Jill told Connect: "The building was designed in the shape of a woman to reflect the spirit of Eden."

Resources

Books
The Green Building Bible (visit www.newbuilder.co.uk)
Cob Buildings: A Practical Guide by Jane Schofield & Jill Smallcombe, from Black Dog Press 01884 861181
Eco-renovation: Ecological Home Improvement Guide by Edward Harland. ISBN: 1870098528
The Cob Builders’ Handbook: You Can Hand-Sculpt Your Own Home by Becky Bee ISBN: 0965908208

Useful websites
www.cobincornwall.com
www.abeysmallcombe.com
www.backtoearth.co.uk
www.cobblocks.co.uk
www.aecb.net
www.ecodesign.co.uk
www.greenconstruction.co.uk
www.greenshop.co.uk
www.permaculture.co.uk
www.selfbuildit.co.uk
www.csbt.org.uk
(Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust - 01726 68654)
Mike Wye & Associates
Suppliers of natural building and decorating products
www.mikewye.co.uk
01409 281644

Courses & Events:
Cob Course, Crediton, Devon - June 27. Tel: 01884 861181
Cob Course, Devon - July 2/3. Tel: 01647 281282
Eco Building Conference, Sussex - July 9/10. Tel: 01285 841208
Working with Cob, Bideford, Devon - September 4.
Tel: 01288 331692
Rural Skills, Cheriton Bishop, Devon - September 11.
Tel: 01364 642480