Posted by Michael Blaha, January 31st , 2006.
Building With Cob
A Step-by-Step Guide
by Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce
The first practical UK handbook about building with this eco-friendly material
www.howtobuildwithcob.co.uk »
Cob building uses a simple mixture of clay sub-soil, aggregate, straw and water
to create solid structural walls built without shuttering or forms, on to a stone
plinth. This ancient practice has been used throughout Britain for centuries—
the fact that 45,000 of Cornwall’s housing stock is cob, is a testament to the
material’s strength and durability.
Building with Cob shows how to apply cob-building techniques in a wide variety of situations.
It covers everything from design, planning and siting, to roofs, insulation and floors. Lavishly illustrated with inspirational colour photographs, it is the first book of its kind in the UK.
The Authors:
Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce undertook an apprenticeship in natural building with the Cob Cottage Company in Oregon, USA. On their return to the UK they started their company ‘Cob in Cornwall’. They have built and restored many cob buildings including two-storey houses, small studios and garden rooms, outside courtyards and fireplaces, and earth ovens. In 2003 they won a ‘Pioneers to the Nation’ award from the Queen. They live in Manaccan, Cornwall.
Posted by Michael Blaha, January 28th , 2006.
Maryland’s House. Photo credit: Stefano Paltera / Solar Decathlon
The 2005 Solar Decathlon took place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., October 7-16th 2005. The event featured 18 collegiate teams from across the U.S, Canada, Puerto Rico and Spain.
The teams designed, built, operated and monitored small super-efficient solar homes. The Sun’s energy powered day-to-day activities- including driving around in electric cars.
The Univeristy of Colorado created a
‘Petroleum Alternative’ Building System called The BioS(h)IP. This building is a Net Zero Energy Home (NZEH) that makes use of what I would call high-tech natural building materials. The Colorado team unveiled the innovative new product called called BIO-SIPs, a biobased structural insulated panels. Net Zero Energy buildings create as much energy as they use on an annual basis. All of these buildings were off the grid, so they would have to create all the power needed for consumption. The BioS(h)IP will find a permanent home in the Solar Village, part of the Prospect New Town housing development, in Longmont, Colorado.
I’m glad to see students have created housing that can be powered by clean renewable energy. After all, the large constant nuclear explosion 887,000,000 miles away happens to power our solar system… why not our house hold appliances? I can’t wait to see what they come up with in 2007.
Posted by Michael Blaha, January 21st , 2006.
Photo by David Sheen, Myrtle Courtyard – Cob Cottage Company, Coquille, Oregon
WOW!
http://www.davidsheen.com/cascadiacob2005/
Posted by Michael Blaha, January 20th , 2006.
The 16th annual Energy Design Conference is coming up this February 7th and 8th at the Convention Center in Duluth, Minnesota.
Update Feb 9th 2006
I posted a few photos » of vendor displays that caught my interest.
Posted by Michael Blaha, January 11th , 2006.
Features of the Cob Courtyard:
Community Space for Artists and Residence
Water catchment for watering plants
Built-in fireplace
Natural Building Materials
Archway made of Cob
Sculpture space
Mini outdoor amphitheater
‘Cannon River Commons’ access
