Monolithic Cob

Cob, sometimes referred to as “coursed adobe” or “monolithic adobe” is an ancient building material comprised of sticky clay, coarse sand, and long straw. Traditionally, cob is mixed manually, by hand or foot, and applied onto a stone or masonry foundation in layers of moist cob “loaves” that form a solid, monolithic wall system. Solid cob walls are incredibly strong, have immense thermal mass, and regulate moisture and humidity because of their breathability. Building with cob offers unique opportunities to add sculptural elements such as niches, shelving, window sills, and “built-in” furniture directly into the walls. This creates a living environment full of curves and accents that few other building materials can achieve.