Complete Cob Workshop at Cob Cottage Company – Bandon

Jun 11-19, 2011 in Bandon OR

Max & Eva taught a 9 day intensive course called Complete Cob.

Our project was to build a pavillion that is a large part of a budding outdoor kitchen at the home of Bob and Tammy Van.  During the nine days, we sculpted this structure with local soil, driftwood, redwood and found windows. The course covered in depth all aspects of cob and building techniques such as foundations, construction of walls, arches for doors and windows, roofing, plumbing, electric, shelving, furniture, earthen floors, artistic details and finish work.  In addition to the outdoor kitchen, Bob and Tammy wanted to renovate their garage into a meeting place and so we also worked with them to remodel their existing stick frame construction with ladder trusses and the participants mixed and installed light straw clay insulation.

Added bonuses were the rumford fireplace we built in the pavillion and plastering the new Cob Masonry Heater at Cob Cottage Company!  Our course also covered general natural building strategies such as siting and passive solar design.  We had a beautiful time and are so thankful to our generous and talented hosts!


Making the model


Building and Carving


Windows and Arches


Shelves and Chiseling


Ridge Beams, Rafters and Lashing


Making a Rumford and an Earthen Plaster on the Cob Cottage Masonry Heater


Making a Beautiful Outdoor Kitchen!


The Cob Pavillion with Rumford Fireplace

More photos of the finished roof, plaster and the straw clay retrofit coming soon…

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Straw Clay Retrofit – Village Building Convergence 2011

This year at the VBC,
Eva led the second phase of a light straw clay retrofit in SE Portland
at the Planet Repair Institute!

Over a ten day period, with hands on learning, we made and used straw-clay effectively and efficiently to build insulated walls.

Participants learned about Larson truss framing, and the many facets of mixing and installing straw clay and cob for both interior and exterior settings. We all enjoyed the incredible benefits of this natural building technique as we retrofitted a previously poorly insulated Portland home! (See also last year’s post.)

And good news!  Light straw clay has now been approved by the City of Portland!  This is Portland’s pilot project!  Click here to see  the info from ATAC about permitting this technique...

Light Straw Clay technology has been used for centuries!
People love the low cost, low toxicity, and its use of sustainable,  native and locally available materials!

More about the Village Building Convergence…
More about the Planet Repair Institute…

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