“Oregon Cob” is more of a general term for the model of cob used in the United States– Oregon just happens to be on the forefront of the activities surrounding this natural building method.  The Pacific Northwest is cold and rainy and perfectly suited to the thermal mass of cob buildings, so much of the how-to information, locations of structures, and photographs on this site are based around Oregon Cob. It emerged on the building scene in the U.S. only in the late 1980’s. The leading explorers and visionaries in the states was Lanto Evans and Linda Smiley, who later went on to found the “Cob Cottage Company” in Oregon. They modeled their recipe and building techniques after British cob styles, since their climate closely matched Britain’s.

Just as cob in other parts of the world has its traditions and practices, so does cob in the United States. One way in which Oregon Cob is unique from its predecessor’s techniques is the high attention given to materials. In the past, people didn’t have the option of trucking in sand or clay, they used whatever make up was already available on their property. Now, with efficiency in transportation methods, the highest quality clays and sands can be trucked in relatively inexpensively. The quantity, length, and quality of straw has also increased from ancient recipes. Since straw was an in-demand commodity for animal bedding and thatching and now that purpose has since expired thus leaving it available in huge quantities for cheap. Oregon cob mainly designs with rounded walls for added strength and ease of design, while its predecessor’s kept traditional long, straight walls. Oregon cob has implemented much more sculptural, aesthetic, and decorative features than historic cob homes.