Event

Cob and Adobe Intensive

Instructors Michael G. Smith and Massey Burke. This hands-on course immerses students in two important forms of earthen construction, cob and adobe. Adobe, one of the world's oldest and most widespread building techniques, refers to the use of sun-dried blocks of clay soil, fiber, and sand to build up a wall. These blocks can be arranged in various ways for different kinds of structural strength in a building. Cob, also known as monolithic adobe, is a combination of clay soil, straw, and sand, hand-formed in place on the wall while the mix is still moist and sculptable. The two techniques are complementary in construction: each expands the possibilities of the other. In this course we will learn about soil evaluation for construction, mixing techniques and recipes, basic adobe and cob design and construction principles. There will be a special emphasis on arch-building using both formwork and corbeled techniques. The class will construct the side and end walls of a Nubian vault (see next course for more information about this structure.) $275, or $250 if you pay in full by August 1.