Cob is an ancient natural building material consisting of clay, sand, and straw in varying proportions to create a rock-hard, finished structure. The cob mixture can be used to create a wide array of structures including: cottages, benches, garden walls, ovens, and houses—the possibilities are endless! The term “cob” is English in origin and means “mud building”, but also might reference the English word, cob for loaf or brick. Cob uses no molds, forms, or bricks to create, it is a free-flowing claylike medium sculpted onto a foundation to create thick, load-bearing walls.

Key terms that are associated with cob are below:

Natural building:Involves a range of building systems and materials that place major emphasis on sustainability. Natural building tends to rely on human labor, more than technology

Earthen: of, relating to, or characteristic of the earth or material existence

Hybrid: Refers to buildings that are constructed of more than one type of natural building material

Tactile: Designed to be perceived by touch

Recipe: The specific proportions of sand, clay, straw, and water that mixes up to form cob

Oregon Cob: Term given to the general practice of cob building in the United States, popular in the Pacific Northwest. See page on “Oregon Cob” for more info.

sources:

http://www.networkearth.org/naturalbuilding/history.html

www.wikipedia.com