What is cob?

The term “cob” is derived from Old English, meaning a lump or rounded mass. Cob construction is also known as Earthen Architecture.

It is house sculpting, by hand, using a mixture of wet clay, sand and straw. Cob uses locally available materials mixed into a dough-like consistency to sculpt walls up to two feet thick.

Cob is a “do-it-yourself” method of sustainable building, using cheap materials. It is easy to learn and do, creates no pollution or disposal problems, and is energy efficient and non-flammable. It has been used around the world to create beautiful buildings that stand the test of time. Materials are natural and ecologically sustainable.

Earthen architecture is particularly suited for Stanley Park due to our mild, temperate climate.

Cob was one of the first building methods used by humans, and has persisted all over the world – currently, roughly 1/3 of the world population lives in earthen houses!

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