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Steve Goodhew from the CobBauge initiative tells us about the team’s innovative research into a modern version of this traditional straw-based building material
The CobBauge team have been researching the best ways to create this building material
What is the CobBauge project?
The name is a mix of the English and French terms for cob which is a natural building material that has been used since prehistoric times on both sides of the Channel. It’s particularly prevalent in the South West of the UK. We’ve looked into these conventional techniques to create a strong construction material.
English cob is traditionally a mix of soil, straw and water. It works very well for walls – rooms are warm in winter and cool in summer – but by using the material in its pure form, it isn’t easy to create a structure that complies with modern Building Regulations. We’ve been researching how to keep the method’s efficiency while also meeting today’s standards.